Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date January 7, 2008

Department of Health Responds to Single TB Case at Central Falls High School

On January 3, the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) was notified of a case of active tuberculosis (TB) in a student at Central Falls High School. In consultation with the CDC, HEALTH will be conducting a TB skin test for students and staff who were identified as having had close contact with the student and out of an abundance of caution all juniors and seniors as well. The students and staff will be re-tested in 10 weeks because a person recently exposed with TB may not test positive for several weeks.

“The uniqueness of the case being in a school with active TB has led the Department to recommend the testing of students and staff who had close contact with the student and out of an abundance of caution all juniors and seniors,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “People who have had close contact with this student have a low, but real, risk of getting TB. We want to ensure that we prevent the spread of TB in the school.”

The student is currently receiving medical treatment and is recovering.

“Our first concern is the health and safety of our students and staff,” said Central Falls Superintendent Frances Gallo. “We are working collaboratively with the Department of Health on this response.”

TB is an infection caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis that spreads through the air from a person with active TB infection that is usually found in their lungs. The bacteria can cause two types of illness, an active form (active TB disease) and a latent form (latent TB infection). When infected, the bacteria commonly cause disease in the lungs but can also cause disease in other parts of the body. The symptoms of active TB depend on where the infection occurs but usually cause individuals to have the following collection of symptoms: unexpected weight loss, night sweats, weakness or fatigue, loss of appetite, persistent coughing (more than 3 weeks and sometimes with blood) or shortness of breath.

TB is a reportable disease, and therefore part of the Health Department’s disease surveillance system. The Department of Health sees about 50 cases of active TB every year in Rhode Island (about 1 a week) in Rhode Islanders from all towns and cities, of all ages and all races. The Department routinely evaluates each case and tests all close contacts to prevent the spread of TB. All new cases of TB receive treatment at the RISE Clinic, the state-supported TB specialty clinic.