Sep 29, 2008 6:12 pm US/Pacific
Riverside Student Diagnosed With Tuberculosis
RIVERSIDE A female senior at John W. North High School in Riverside has been diagnosed with tuberculosis prompting health officials to ask students who have come in contact with the student to go for a TB screening.

"We're working very closely with the Riverside County Department of Public Health, following their protocol and guidance on what to do," said Dianne Pavia, spokeswoman for the Riverside Unified School District.

"This is very rare. I've been in the district four years now, and this is the first (TB) case I've seen."

The female student, who has been absent from school since Sept. 12, is "responding well to treatment" at a Riverside hospital, according to Pavia.

County Public Health Director Dr. Eric Frykman said officials are identifying students and staff at North High who were in "close and prolonged contact with the student" during the roughly three weeks she was in attendance.

The fall term began little more than a month ago.

According to Frykman, 55 TB cases have been documented in Riverside
County this year.

There were 80 cases reported last year, he said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, TB is a bacteria-born illness transmitted through the air when a patient coughs or sneezes.

Some people develop latent TB infections that don't reveal any serious symptoms. But other times, it progresses to an advanced stage, with sometimes fatal consequences, according to the CDC.

Active TB is often marked by physical weakening, mucus-producing coughs, feverishness and weight loss, health officials said.

Pavia said county Department of Public Health staff will be at North High Wednesday to perform TB screenings on students, teachers and others at the school who were in close proximity to the TB-infected student.

Pavia estimated that as many as 200 students may have been in classes
with the girl. But the RUSD spokeswoman said anyone can request a screening if they're concerned.
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