Health department tracking possible tuberculosis exposures tied to Tri-State school - WKRC

ERLANGER, Ky. (WKRC) — The Northern Kentucky Health Department is investigating a tuberculosis case connected to Lloyd Memorial High School in Erlanger and is contacting dozens of students and staff members who may have been exposed. Health officials say the person diagnosed with tuberculosis, or TB, is improving with treatment. The health department is not releasing whether the individual is a student or staff member, but officials say between 55 and 70 people who spent significant time around that person are now being contacted and screened. The news has left some parents concerned. "It's scary. I don't know a whole lot about tuberculosis," said Abby Wilson, whose daughter Bailee attends Lloyd Memorial High School. Wilson said she received a call from the school informing families about the case and immediately sought guidance from her daughter's doctor. "I hung up and immediately called her pediatrician before I got on Google," said Wilson. Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease spread through the air by a person with active TB disease. It most commonly affects the lungs and can cause symptoms including a persistent cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, weakness or fatigue, and weight loss. Matt Adams, the tuberculosis coordinator for the Northern Kentucky Health Department, is overseeing the investigation and contacting those who may need testing. He emphasized that the situation does not pose a widespread threat to the community. "The general public, at this point, they don't need to panic that someone in Erlanger has tuberculosis," Adams said. "It's just those individuals that spent more time around this person." Adams said a vaccine for tuberculosis exists but is not routinely used in the United States because there are fewer cases compared to other parts of the world. While tuberculosis can be serious and even deadly, Adams says it's treatable. "With all the developments in public health and all the years of experience with public health, TB is very treatable," Adams said. "Our drugs work; they work really well. People do well with them, typically, and they get better pretty quickly." With students now out of school for summer break, health officials say the risk of additional exposure is lower than it would be during the school year. "I really hope that that child or student, staff member, or whoever it is, is okay and going to be okay with no long-term effects," she said. The Northern Kentucky Health Department has established a hotline for anyone with questions or concerns about the case. The hotline number is (859)-363-2120. Officials say they will continue notifying anyone believed to have had significant exposure and will provide testing and follow-up as needed.