Students at an Edmonton Catholic High School will be tested for tuberculosis after one of its students was confirmed to have the disease.
About 125 students who may have come into contact with their infected classmate at Austin O’Brien High School were sent home with consent forms for testing, which is set to begin tomorrow.
“In January, Alberta Health Services let us know a student had contracted and tested positive for tuberculosis,” said Lori Nagy, ECS spokesperson.
Nagy said this is the first case TB she knows of involving an ECS student.
While often thought of as an ancient disease, the city sees “a number of cases every year,” according to the acting medical officer of health for AHS in Edmonton.
“Canada and Alberta are very protected (from TB) and we have low rates, but that doesn’t mean we have zero,” said Dr. Marcia Johnson.
AHS is not giving details about the student, but Johnson said protocol is to isolate an infected person for about two weeks, then to continue treatment until all signs of infection are gone.
People can be unaware they have come into contact with tuberculosis, said Johnson. “With TB, if you happen to run into the bacteria and it’s successful in making itself home in you in a collection of bacteria, it just goes to sleep.”
Those deemed to have had close contact with the infected student will be tested first.
