Warren health district working to confirm TB diagnosis in Franklin Jr. High student

UPDATE @ 5:45 p.m. (Sept. 10): The Warren County Health District is continuing to work with physicians to confirm a TB diagnosis at Franklin Junior High School, health district officials said in a prepared statement released late Monday afternoon.

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"At this time there are no recommendations for TB testing," district officials said in the statement. If a tuberculosis diagnosis is confirmed, parents will be notified of any testing recommendations, officials said.

TB can be clinically diagnosed but may require further testing to be confirmed, health officials said.

According to the statement, officials with Franklin City Schools notified the health district late on Sept. 7 about a suspect/clinically diagnosed case of TB at the junior high.

Classes at the junior high resumed as normal Monday.

INITIAL REPORT (Sept. 9)

Classes will resume as normal after Franklin City Schools was informed a Franklin Junior High student had tested positive for tuberculosis, according to a press release from Franklin City Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael D. Sander.

The Franklin City School District was notified of the student September 9 and had immediately contacted the Warren County Combined Health district, according to the release. They were advised it was safe to resume classes as normal Monday at the school located at 126 E. 6th St.

Tuberculosis is an airborne pathogen that is typically transmitted indoors as sunlight kills the germs quickly. The germ can only survive in the air for a short period of time before dying, according to the release.

School personnel thoroughly cleaned and sanitized the school as a precaution Sunday.

The affected student will not attend school until they are cleared by a physician, Sander said.

The Warren County Health Department is in contact with Dayton Children’s Infectious Disease Team who will notify the district of any further precautionary steps, according to Sander.

TB SYMPTOMS

General symptoms of tuberculosis include feelings of sickness, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. Symptoms of tuberculosis disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain and coughing up blood. Symptoms of the disease in other parts of the body depend on the affected area, according to the release.

The school district will keep families, staff and students informed of any additional precautions that the Warren County Combined Health District recommends, Sander said.

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