ACHD investigating case of active tuberculosis in Brentwood High School student

BRENTWOOD, Pa. — The Allegheny County Health Department is investigating a case of active tuberculosis in a student at Brentwood High School, according to a letter from the superintendent that was sent to families.

According to the letter, the student has attended school remotely since the beginning of the year. The student is receiving treatment and is expected to resume normal activities in the near future.

The school district and the Health Department are working to identify those who may have been exposed and to arrange testing.

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The district has informational Zoom meetings scheduled for staff and families on Monday.

The letter included more information about tuberculosis:

“Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease that is spread only through the air from one person to another. TB cannot be spread by casual contact like kissing, shaking hands or hugging or through sharing food, drinks or utensils. Also, it cannot be spread via surfaces. The only way to contract the disease is to breathe in the bacteria by being extremely close to an infected person for a long period of time while they are coughing, sneezing, singing, or talking.”

“Tuberculosis is a serious disease but is rare, preventable and treatable with antibiotics. A person with TB will become non-infectious within a few days to weeks of effective treatment and will be able to return to normal activities without risk to others while completing treatment. Symptoms of TB can include a cough of longer than three weeks, unexplained weight loss, ight sweats, chills, fever and coughing up blood.”

Click here to read more about the disease on the CDC’s website.

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