Tuberculosis Case Found At Concord School
Students, Staff Being Tested For Exposure
A student has been diagnosed with tuberculosis at a school in Concord, state health officials said Friday.
The Department of Health and Human Services said a kindergarten student was diagnosed with the illness at Dame School, an elementary school. The student was taken out of class and is isolated at home.
"Tuberculosis is generally difficult to spread from one person to another and requires prolonged contact," said Dr. Jose Montero, director of public health at DHHS. "In this case, it seems unlikely that anyone else was exposed. However, we always conduct a thorough investigation when it comes to reportable diseases, and we certainly will in this case, as well."
Montero said students and staff are being tested for exposure, and health officials are also working with the student's family.
Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that usually infect the lungs and is spread by coughing. Symptoms include coughing, night sweats, fever and weight loss. It can be treated with an extended course of medication.
About 10 tuberculosis cases have been diagnosed in New Hampshire in recent years. It's unclear how the kindergartner contracted the disease.
Health officials said the student could be out of school for two weeks and on medication for about six months.