The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) confirmed recently that a person with active tuberculosis (TB) disease was “affiliated” with Chancellor High School and the Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center during the school year, according to a letter to parents from Spotsylvania County Public Schools on Monday.
The school division and RAHD shared information with parents noting that TB is primarily an airborne bacterial disease spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Transmission generally requires prolonged contact with an infected person, especially in an enclosed space. TB is not spread by sharing silverware or cups or during brief contact such as hugs or handshakes.
The letter also stated that employees, students, and staff identified by the RAHD as being potentially exposed to TB will be individually contacted via a separate notification by Wednesday, and asked to attend a free TB screening and testing event.
SCPS is supportive of the process RAHD is taking to determine the people recommended for testing. The school division is working to arrange the specifics of testing with as little disruption to the school year as possible. RAHD will send letters to those who may have been exposed and will include additional information.
Tuberculosis primarily attacks the lungs but is capable of affecting other body parts, including the brain, kidneys, or spine. It is curable with antibiotics, but can be fatal if untreated. Symptoms include a persistent, bad cough lasting three weeks or longer, chest pain, coughing up blood of phlegm, fever, chills, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and extreme fatigue.
More information on TB is available on the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/tuberculosis/ and https://www.cdc.gov/tb/.
School officials encouraged anyone with questions about TB or the screening and testing process, call their healthcare provider or RAHD at 540-899-4797 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
