TB CASE REPORTED AT HELIX CHARTER SCHOOL

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

November 23, 2015 (La Mesa)--A person at Helix Charter School was recently diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) and may have exposed others, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) reported.

HHSA is working closely with school officials to notify anyone who was possibly exposed to the disease between Aug. 5 and Nov. 13. Free testing for students who may have been exposed will take place on Dec. 1 at the school, located at 7323 University Avenue in La Mesa.

Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.

“Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease, but those that do develop symptoms can be treated and cured with medication,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “That’s why it’s important to identify those who have been exposed.”

TB in not uncommon in the San Diego region but has been decreasing in recent years. To date, 184 cases have been reported in 2015. In 2014, 220 cases were reported in the county and in 2013, 206 cases were reported - the lowest number since local TB case peaked at 469 in 1993.

For more information on this potential exposure, call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.