Rockland County Students Exposed To Person With Tuberculosis
NYACK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Several students at two Rockland County schools have been exposed to an individual with infectious tuberculosis, health officials said in a letter to parents.
All students who were exposed to the person at Nyack Middle and Liberty Elementary schools have been identified and given information about testing, the Journal News reported.
As CBS2's Lou Young reported, the health department said dozens of students have been exposed to a sick person who is now hospitalized.
The students number "less than fifty" and were being tested for the disease.
"There has been no exposure on school grounds in any buildings whatsoever, so there's really no concern for other students, staff members of visitors to our schools. It seems to be a contained event," Dr. Jams Montesano, Nyack School Superintendent said.
There shouldn't be any risk of further spread of the bacterial disease, the Rockland County Department of Health said.
"Since tuberculosis germs only remain in the environment for a few hours, there should not be any risk of further spread of TB," the department stated.
The county would not confirm it, but there are indications the exposure may have taken place on a school bus, perhaps from a driver or bus monitor. The health commissioner said the patient became visibly ill with respiratory symptoms two weeks ago, and was diagnosed at a local hospital.
"TB is one of the major killers in the world today. Most of the cases we see here in America are cases that are brought in where someone has traveled abroad," Rockland Health Commissioner, Dr. Patricia Ruppert said, "That's being evaluated at this time and it may be the case."
Symptoms of TB infection include coughing, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and difficulty sleeping.
Parents picking up their children at school said they had the risk in perspective, but were surprised about the presence of a disease once thought to be eradicated in America.
"I was caught off guard by it, but I wouldn't say I was alarmed," Darrell Caniero said.
The only person exhibiting those symptoms is the patient, and only an infected person can transmit the disease.
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