San Diego Middle School Student is Diagnosed with TB



A San Diego middle school student was diagnosed with tuberculosis, prompting county health officials Thursday to notify classmates, faculty and staff who may have been exposed.

The infected student attended classes at Horace Mann Middle School from Nov. 1 to April 23, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

"It's important for people to know TB is in our community," said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the county's deputy public health officer.

"Tuberculosis is spread through the air during prolonged contact with a person with TB," he said. "If you have symptoms of TB, please contact your health provider."

Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss, according to the HHSA. Most people who are exposed to tuberculosis do not develop the disease.

There were 280 cases of tuberculosis in San Diego County in 2007, according to the HHSA. So far, there have been 51 cases of the disease reported locally this year.

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