Texas: 225 Test Positive for Tuberculosis, 3rd active case found.

[Ronan Kelly]

80 Students Test Positive for TB
Published : Monday, 19 Sep 2011, 4:34 PM CDT
Lari Barager
FOX 4 News
Adapted for Web by Tracy DeLatte | myFOXdfw.com
ENNIS, Texas - Dozens of high school students in Ennis have tested positive for tuberculosis after a teacher exposed them to the disease. It?s caused confusion and concern.
The Ennis Independent School District recently alerted the community on its website that it was screening high school students who came into contact with a teacher who came down with the disease. Administrators now say 80 students tested positive on the TB skin screen.
?It?s kind of scary because you don?t know what to do about it,? said Aisha Blackshire.
She said she was stunned when her daughter Sasha tested positive for TB. She was even more surprised to hear Sasha was expected to return to class.

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Read more on myFOXdfw.com: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/edu...#ixzz1YRRFVbCC

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Texas: 80 Students Test Positive for TB

Questions & Answers Regarding Tuberculosis Situation
Q: What is the current update on the TB situation at Ennis High School?
A: Skin tests were administered by the Texas Department of State Health Services
(TDSHS) last week to a group of students, faculty and staff at Ennis High School who
were identified as close contacts to an EHS teacher who has been diagnosed with an
active case of TB.
Those who had positive readings from the skin test were instructed by TDSHS to
receive chest x-rays, which will help identify whether or not they have an active case
of TB. Please note that a positive reading from the skin test does not mean that a
person has TB. It could mean they had a positive reading due to an allergy or
another reason. That is why the chest x-rays are necessary.

Q: Will there be more testing of students at EHS?
A: Ennis ISD will continue to follow the instructions of TDSHS in terms of their
protocol. If there is a need for more testing, parents and the community will be
informed immediately. At the present time, there are no plans for additional testing.
However, we will continue to adhere to TDSHS recommendations. According to
TDSHS, there is usually an 8-10 week exposure period, and that period has passed.
TDSHS will follow up with students who received notification letters but were not
tested due to lack of parental consent.

Q: Were those with positive readings allowed to return to school this week?
A: Yes. The TDSHS assured us that persons with a positive reading on the skin test
posed no health risk as long as they did not show symptoms of active TB.

Q: When and where are the chest x-rays being conducted?
A: We have received updated information that TDSHS now has a contract in place
for chest x-rays to be conducted free of charge at Ennis Regional Medical Center as
well as Baylor Medical in Waxahachie. The authority in determining the designated
x-ray facility lies with TDSHS, not Ennis ISD. Those with positive readings have
referral letters and are instructed to obtain their chest x-rays in Ennis or
Waxahachie as soon as possible.

Q: What is the process going forward?
A: We will continue to coordinate the situation closely with TDSHS, as they are
responsible for all aspects of diagnosis, treatment options (including free services),
testing protocol, designation of service providers, and information release protocol.
TDSHS has the names of those who had positive readings from the skin test and
must follow the laws associated with patient confidentiality.

Q: Is there a vaccine for TB?
A: Information released Friday afternoon from the Region Service Center referenced
a vaccination for Tuberculosis. There is no vaccine against TB; however, there are
very effective treatment options.

Q: If treatment is required, what are the cost options?
A: The State of Texas, through TDSHS, will cover the costs for those who require
treatment as long as the treatments are through the state. Those with private
physicians have the option of switching over to treatment through the state.
However, please note that the state cannot reimburse costs already incurred with
private physicians.

http://www.ennis.k12.tx.us/files/news/tb%20questions%20and%20answers.updated.pdf

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Texas: 80 Students Test Positive for TB

TB Testing Round Two at Ennis High School
Parents say they are frustrated by lack of informationBy Randy McIlwain | Friday, Sep 23, 2011 | Updated 9:45 PM CDT

Some parents say the Ennis Independent School District is doing a poor job of answering questions about the tuberculosis testing the state is conducting.

The Texas Department of Health Services conducted a second round of testing on students at Ennis High School where 80 students have tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis.

The initial round of testing was conducted because a teacher who is now on medical leave was diagnosed with the bacterial infection before the start of the school year.

Veronica Valdez, whose son tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis in the first round of testing, went to the Ennis ISD administration building to ask about her son's health, the risks for the rest of her family and if the school is medically safe.

...
Her son begins nine months of medication on Monday to make sure he doesn't develop tuberculosis.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/TB-Testing-Round-Two-at-Ennis-High-School-130476353.html

[Pathfinder]

Re: Texas: 194 Students Test Positive for Tuberculosis

Health Authorities Conducting Tuberculosis Investigation ? October 3, 2011

As part of its ongoing tuberculosis contact investigation in Ellis County, the Texas Department of State Health Services will continue screening students and staff at Ennis High School for exposure to tuberculosis through this week.

In the first two phases of the investigation, DSHS identified and notified all students and staff who were close contacts to a person with a confirmed or suspected case of active tuberculosis. In this third phase, the department will offer free screening to all EHS students and staff who have not yet been tested.

Additionally, the City of Ennis and Ennis Regional Medical Center will offer free tuberculosis screening for current EHS students and staff during clinics at the hospital Oct. 3, 5, 10 and 12 from 3 to 9 p.m.

To date, health officials have analyzed 968 TB skin tests associated with this investigation. Of those, 194 had a positive test result.

A positive skin test result means the bacteria is in the body, but it does not mean the person has the disease and is contagious. Those with a positive skin test are strongly encouraged to seek treatment and follow-up chest X-rays to determine if they have the disease. Symptoms of the disease include a bad cough lasting three weeks or longer, unexplained weight loss and night sweats.

DSHS is following guidelines published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a tuberculosis investigation. Those guidelines are published at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5415.pdf.

Tuberculosis is treatable and not highly infectious. There were 1,385 cases of tuberculosis in 2010 in Texas and 1,500 cases in 2009.
News Media: This information will be updated when new information is available until further notice.

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/updates.shtm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Texas: 194 Students Test Positive for Tuberculosis

Dallas Morning News 1 hour ago
School officials announce third active case of tuberculosis in Ennis High outbreak
.These screenings will end this week.Also, about 200 students and staff at Denton High School were tested for tuberculosis this week, after a transfer student from Ennis fell ill. Officials are awaiting the results of those tests.So far state health... Full Article at Dallas Morning News

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http://topics.dallasnews.com/article/0h1HgBOfutbfb?q=health