TB Jackson Investigation Update 

Jacksonville, FL - The Florida Department of Health (DOH-Duval) continues its contact investigation around two cases of active Tuberculosis (TB) at Andrew Jackson Senior High School. Approximately 100 students and six staff from the school have been identified for testing. Those individuals exposed are being medically evaluated and will be offered therapy, if found infected. Currently, 68 of 71 students and faculty from the school have been tested and received their results. One student has tested positive for TB exposure. Exposure to TB is not the same as active disease. This is called latent tuberculosis infection or LTBI.

No new active cases have been identified. The investigation was initiated following the recent hospitalization, and release, of one student with active TB.

TB is a disease caused by germs spread from person to person in close contact through the air. TB germs are put in the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. Persons who breathe in the air containing TB germs can become infected.

TB is diagnosed by a skin test or blood test, administered by your health care provider or local health department. A positive test usually means the person has been infected with the TB germ, however, it does not necessarily mean the person has active TB disease. Additional tests, such as an x-ray or sputum sample are needed to determine if the person has active TB disease. TB can be easily cured through proper medical treatment.

For more information, visit:

https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/tuberculosis/tb-faqs.html

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/

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