Tuberculosis concerns at School #91

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Students and staff had to be tested for tuberculosis at a Buffalo Public School.

Just to put this in perspective, there were 15 active cases of tuberculosis in Erie County last year. But when it's found in a school, dozens of children have to go through testing.

Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony Billittier explained, "We realize this isn't pleasant for them or their children, but we are doing doing the best we can."

  >>   Click here to read about more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of tuberculosis

Dr. Billittier confirmed to News 4 that about two weeks ago, an employee at Build Academy on Fougeron Street was diagnosed with tuberculosis. As standard procedure, the health department teamed up with Buffalo school officials to test over 50 children who the employee may have come in contact with.

Letters were sent to parents asking for their permission. The interim superintendent also sent out a letter to parents. The examination consists of a skin test for tuberculosis, which was offered at the school this past Monday, and a small injection of fluid is done on each child's forearm.

Dr. Billittier said, "After the TB test is planted, and basically that's done with a small needle and syringe, small amount of fluid injected just under the skin, a little ripple under the skin, and then two days later what we look for is swelling in that area."

The testing revealed that one student and one other adult did have dormant TB, and were offered antibiotics to keep it from becoming an active case.

In the general population, somewhere between 10 and 30 percent of people have been exposed to tuberculosis at some point in their lives, but it is not active in their systems. An active case can include symptoms like a low grade fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and persistent cough.

"Very few people die from TB anymore," said Dr. Billittier.

Tuberculosis takes about two months to become active, so the health department plans another round of testing at Build Academy later this fall.