163 TEXAS BORDER STUDENTS TESTED FOR TB

163 TEXAS BORDER STUDENTS TESTED FOR TB

http://media.breitbart.com/media/201...36-640x474.jpgAP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov

by MERRILL HOPE 27 Jun 201516

School is out for summer but one Texas border city’s health officials called 163 elementary schoolchildren back into the classroom for testing following possible tuberculosis (TB) exposure.

Earlier in the week, the City of El Paso Department of Public Health sent letters via certified mail to families of these 163 youngsters in the Clint Independent School District (ISD). They came in contact with someone with active TB at Frank Macias Elementary in Horizon City. The letter invited them to attend an informational session where professionals tested the children for TB on Thursday morning, June 25.

Breitbart Texas spoke to Bruce Parsons, health department assistant director, who said this first session was only for children on a list of those possibly exposed to the bacterial pulmonary infection. On Monday, June 29, more of the affected children will meet with health officials.

“Next Tuesday morning, we’ll run some informational sessions for parents whose children are not on the list but are concerned. We’ll give them a tuberculosis 101 so that they understand why certain people are on the list, why they are not, and information so they can understand the basics about TB, diagnosis and treatment,” he said.

Parsons said he was very pleased that on such short notice up to 70 of the 163 children showed up for Thursday’s first meeting.

“We are approaching the 4th of July holiday. One of the reasons we are trying to get as many as these kids tested as possible over the course of this week is that many of those families will plan to leave town,” he added, emphasizing the importance of parents getting the children tested and not waiting for symptoms to develop to receive treatment.

Parsons pointed out on the positive side, “Children of this age bracket are really unlikely to transmit to others.”

The Centers of Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) say this is because young children contract a milder TB strain than adults. It is called pediatric tuberculosis. However, when infected, youngsters are more likely than adults to get sick more quickly.

The CDC includes among the most common childhood signs and symptom of tuberculosis: cough; feelings of sickness or weakness, lethargy, and/or reduced playfulness; weight loss or failure to thrive; fever; and/or night sweats.

Previously, the El Paso Times reported Parsons would not say if the individual with active TB was a student or an adult on the campus because of privacy laws.

He told the local newspaper: “After learning about the active TB case, we immediately initiated a full-scale investigation.”

He said they determined there were up to 163 students and 8 staff members who may have been exposed. Faculty in question will be tested too.

There are approximately 1,100 students and 100 employees at the elementary school, according to the El Paso Times. The school year ended on June 9.

In a press release, Parsons stated that El Paso health officials continue to work closely with the Clint ISD and the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) on the matter. El Paso health department officials began investigating the possible tuberculosis exposures on June 15.

FOX-14 reported this was not the first TB scare in the El Paso area. Last September, 859 newborns in an area hospital’s postpartum and newborn nursery were potentially exposed to the infection. No active cases emerged although 11 infants tested positive.

This latest health jolt is of concern to El Paso officials because tuberculosis rates are higher along the Texas-Mexico border. El Paso is just north of that border.

In 2013, the TDSHS accounted for 1,222 cases of tuberculosis, a rate of 4.6 per 100,000 population. Of those, 51 percent were among Hispanics; 19 percent, African American; 14 percent, Caucasian; and 16 percent, Asians. One was reportedly extremely drug resistant.

Breitbart Texas reported on a TB outbreak in East Texas just weeks ago at a community college. One case quickly spread to 60 people, who were later screened for the infectious airborne bacterial illness.

Anyone can contract TB. It is more likely to be diagnosed in people born in a foreign country where pulmonary infection is prevalent. Over 95 percent of TB cases are in developing countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Not everyone infected with the bacteria becomes sick. For some, it remains dormant, a person shows no symptoms and is not contagious. However, once the TB bacteria is active, a person manifests the disease.

http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/...tested-for-tb/

More evidence that American children in the eyes of government are less precious than alien children, including MS-13 gang members. After one years of very strong evidence do I see any virulent objections to government making our children less precious?

I would despise being a thinking 12 year old American school child!! In the past week that child has seen Gay rights win, uproars over a confederate symbol with upcoming results. while no one seems to care about protecting my education for one, but does not care about protecting my health. How much shame will America be willing to accept? It is very heavy, now!

I cannot find any reason to be proud of the last or this Congress, one controlled by democrats, and this one controlled by republicans. I cannot find it in my heart to continue doing that to 12 year old intelligent school children!! What is important, will you?

When we have stopped defending our school children, we have stopped defending Americans, America, and American values! In 6 short years those 12 year olds will be in college, of voting age, sharing with others what we have done to them with each other. It is time we step up to correct our behavior and deliver them some positive stories to share in college.

35 people test positive for tuberculosis at El Paso school

July 07, 2015 11:55 CDT

EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- Public health officials say nearly three dozen students and staff at a West Texas school have tested positive for tuberculosis since examinations began in mid-June.

The El Paso Department of Public Health ordered tests for 163 students and eight staff members at Frank Macias Elementary School after an active case of tuberculosis was discovered at the school last month. Of the 150 or so people who have been tested, 29 children and six staff members tested positive for the infectious bacterial disease.

Another round of testing will begin Wednesday for 40 more children and the school's entire staff of about 100 adults. It's expected to be complete by the end of the week.

Last year, 44 cases of tuberculosis were identified in the El Paso area.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/template/inews...l#.VZwdo_lViko

Donald Trump claims Mexican immigrants bring 'tremendous infectious disease' across the border

http://www.independent.co.uk/incomin...nald-Trump.jpg

Trump’s attempts at defending his comments have created more controversy

HEATHER SAUL http://www.independent.co.uk/skins/ind/images/plus.png
Tuesday 07 July 2015

Donald Trump has accused Mexican immigrants of bringing “infectious diseases” across the border into the US in another attempt at defending his controversial claim that they are criminals and rapists.

The business magnate sparked a national outcry, lost major business deals and had lucrative ties with companies severed in response to his controversial statements about immigration – all of which have been made in the turbulent three weeks after he launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Trump admitted to “losing a lot” during his car-crash campaign, but appeared undeterred by his losses when he released yet another inflammatory statement on Monday accusing the Mexican Government of forcing “their most unwanted people into the United States”.

He also defended his initial 16 June statement, which he claimed was distorted by the media.

“The worst elements in Mexico are being pushed into the United States by the Mexican government," he said.
Loading galleryhttp://www.independent.co.uk/indepen...jax-loader.gif

“The largest suppliers of heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs are Mexican cartels that arrange to have Mexican immigrants trying to cross the borders and smuggle in the drugs.

“The border patrol knows this. Likewise, tremendous infectious disease is pouring across the border. The United States has become a dumping ground for Mexico and, in fact, for many other parts of the world.

"On the other hand, many fabulous people come in from Mexico and our country is better for it. But these people are here legally, and are severely hurt by those coming in illegally."

His previous attempts at reiterating his views resulted in him asserting that “somebody is doing the raping” after CNN host Don Lemon pointed out that he had misunderstood the crux of an article he was using as evidence for his claims.

Trump's divisive comments have caused many Republicans to distance themselves from him, with Jeb Bush saying simply: "Trump is wrong about this." But other candidates, such as Ted Cruz, have stood by him and blamed the media for vilifying him.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pe...-10371739.html

Why would anyone question that Mexican aliens bring infectious diseases across the border? Anyone that does is overdue for a sanity check-up.

El Paso health officials: 71 people positive for TB, none believed to be active

By Aaron Martinez / El Paso Times / POSTED: 07/14/2015 01:18:28 PM MDT

No active tuberculosis cases have been found in the two recent incidents of exposure to the disease in El Paso County, although 71 people have tested positive for TB, health officials said today.

El Paso Department of Public Health officials are still investigating the incidents at Frank Macias Elementary School and at a Lower Valley halfway house.

The TB investigation began on June 15 at the Clint Independent School District elementary school after a person associated with school was diagnosed with the disease. In an unrelated investigation, health officials also tested residents and staff members at the Dismas Charities starting on July 6 after being notified that a person associated with the halfway house tested positive for TB.

Neither person has been identified.

With active TB, people become sick and the immune system can't stop it from growing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Inactive TB, also known as latent TB, is when patients don't become ill and their bodies are able to fight the bacteria.

Frank Macias Elementary

The testing at the school focused on second grade students and teachers and staff who work with them.

Officials first believed 163 students and eight employees had been exposed to TB. Only five students have not been tested, and health officials are urging parents to have them tested immediately.

Of those tested, 38 resulted in positive TB cases, though none are considered active. Two tests are still pending results, officials said.

The department expanded its investigation on July 8 after the positive results came back, officials said. In phase two of the investigation, an additional 15 students and 76 staff members were tested.

Positive results came back on 13 of those cases, and five results are still pending, officials said.

Students and staff who tested positive are now undergoing chest x-rays and sputum smears or blood cultures to check if they have active TB.

Officials said they believe those results will return negative for active TB since none of the patients are showing signs of the disease.

Dismas Charities

Health officials have also tested 137 residents and 38 staff members suspected of being exposed to TB at the Dismas Charities at 7011 Alameda Ave.

So far, 20 people have tested positive for TB, officials said, and six others still need to be tested.

The department is also looking for an additional 36 former residents who may have been exposed to the disease.

According to department officials, there were 44 cases of TB in the El Paso area in 2014. Fifty-five TB cases were reported in 2013, while 38 cases were identified in 2012.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at 546-6249.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_2...-none-believed