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Central District Health (CDH) has confirmed that exposure to TB may have occurred at Capital High School in Boise between January and May 2019. There is no ongoing risk, and people are safe to attend school and school events as usual.
CDH is working with Capital High School and Boise School District to conduct a contact investigation to identify if any TB transmission might have occurred at the school. This week, letters were 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 Capital High School. CDH recommends TB testing only be performed on staff or students who received a letter indicating they were potentially exposed.
Testing
Testing for TB infection is conducted with a tuberculin skin test (TST, also called a PPD) or a blood test (IGRA, such as a T-SPOT). Please note:
- If a person has had a previous positive TST or IGRA they should not be tested again as the result will likely always be positive.
- If a person has received BCG vaccine, a blood test is recommended, because a TST can have a false positive.
- For a person exposed to someone with active TB disease, a TST is positive at 5mm or greater induration.
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 CDH Communicable Disease Control Program at 208-327-8625.
CDH is also offering TST testing to persons identified through this contact investigation, at no cost to the patient (insurance may be billed). Patients may call 208-321-2222 to make an appointment.
For questions or additional information go to https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm or call the Communicable Disease Control Program at 208-327-8625.
