WAIANAE, Oahu — Dozens at Waianae High School have been tested for tuberculosis because of possible exposure to a student with the disease.
The state Department of Health says the skin testing for 36 students and staff members who shared the same classroom with the ill student took place last week. None of the tests yielded any new TB cases.
The student who has TB is receiving treatment and is no longer attending school.
The school’s administration mailed a letter to parents explaining the situation.
Tuberculosis is an airborne bacterial infection commonly seen in the lungs.
Dr Richard Brostrom, the department’s chief of the Tuberculosis Control Branch, says spreading the disease usually requires many hours of close indoor contact. He says the school screening was an extra safety measure.