Case of tuberculosis at Raleigh high school confirmed, NCDHHS says

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health has confirmed a case of tuberculosis in Wake County.

Officials said a person with an active case of tuberculosis was present at Leesville High School last week.

"I just want to protect him and protect my household as well," Breanna Brown said.
Brown said she kept her son home today and hopes her concerns are being addressed before she sends him back to school.
"Hopefully, they can kind of give us some kind of answers," Brown said. "What you know about what's going on, or ... if they're spreading ... that kind of will make me feel a lot better."

The NCDHHS said it is working with Wake County Schools to identify anyone who may have come in close contact with the person.

According to the department, tuberculosis or TB is a serious disease that can harm the lungs or other parts of the body, such as the brain, kidneys, or spine.

The disease can spread through the air from one person to another when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

Infectious diseases specialist at Duke Health, Dr. Nicholas Turner, said some of the symptoms can overlap with colds and flus, but if it doesn't seem to go away, it may warrant a hospital visit.
"It is a serious condition if you don't get treatment," Turner said. "If you've got the usual sore throat, runny nose and it goes away in a week, you don't have to worry about those cases. If you have something that lingers on for two or three weeks or more, that's really the point where you start to differentiate and worry that it might be something else."

Tuberculosis is not spread by shaking hands, kissing, sex, sharing plates, glasses, utensils, clothing, bedding, or furniture, officials said.

For more information about tuberculosis or TB, visit the NCDHHS website here.