Tuberculosis case confirmed at local middle school, health officials say

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Catawba County Public Health identified someone associated with Arndt Middle School in Hickory who has contagious tuberculosis, officials announced Friday in a news release.

Health officials are evaluating students and staff members to see if anyone was “significantly” exposed. They are offering free testing for those people.

Catawba County Public Health got confirmatory test results on Wednesday. They conducted an investigation and notified potentially affected people the next day.

There is no further risk of exposure connected with this TB case.

Officials did not release the name of the person to protect their privacy.

“A person with contagious TB disease, which is also known as active TB, can spread the bacteria through the air to people around them who frequently share the same air,” officials said.

The entire school has been made aware of this exposure.

“However, a relatively small number of people are likely to have been significantly exposed, and no one is at immediate risk of any health problems,” they said.

“While a communicable disease investigation can be alarming for people who are involved, we want everyone to know that communicable disease investigation is a regular activity for Catawba County Public Health staff,” said Director Jennifer McCracken, Catawba County Public Health. “The current investigation is a classic example of TB exposure investigation and is an important step in helping prevent the spread of TB in our community.”

Click here to learn more about TB.

VIDEO: Public health officials investigating possible cases of tuberculosis at UNCC

Public health officials investigating possible cases of tuberculosis at UNCC Public health officials investigating possible cases of tuberculosis at UNCC

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