Tuberculosis (TB) Exposure at Meridian High School:  TB Testing Recommendations

December 4, 2024

Central District Health (CDH) has confirmed that exposure to TB may have occurred at Meridian High School in Meridian between August and November 2024. There is no ongoing risk, and people are safe to attend school and school events as usual.

CDH is working with Meridian High School and the West Ada School District to conduct a contact investigation to identify if any TB transmission might have occurred at the school. In the next few days, letters will be sent to all individuals who potentially had exposure and need TB testing.

Providers should be prepared to receive questions or requests for TB testing from people associated with Meridian High School. CDH recommends TB testing only be performed on staff or students who receive a letter indicating they were potentially exposed.

Pruebas

Las pruebas para detectar la infección tuberculosa se realizan con una prueba cutánea de la tuberculina (TST, también llamada PPD) o un análisis de sangre (IGRA, como T-SPOT). Tenga en cuenta lo siguiente:

• Si una persona ha tenido un resultado positivo en una prueba TST o IGRA anterior, no debe someterse de nuevo a la prueba, ya que es probable que el resultado sea siempre positivo.
• Si una persona ha recibido la vacuna BCG, se recomienda un análisis de sangre, ya que la prueba de la tuberculina puede dar un resultado falso positivo.
• Para una persona expuesta a alguien con tuberculosis activa, la prueba de la tuberculina es positiva con una induración de 5 mm o más.

Active TB cannot be diagnosed with these tests alone. People who have a positive test for TB infection must have a symptom review and chest x-ray. Common symptoms for active TB are chronic cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss lasting three weeks or more. If you are concerned a patient might have active TB, call the Epidemiology Program at 208-327-8625.

CDH is also offering testing to people identified through this contact investigation if they do not have barriers to accessing medical care.

Para preguntas o información adicional, diríjase a https://www.cdc.gov/tb/testing/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm or call the Epidemiology Program at 208-327-8625.