GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — South Gwinnett High School officials said on Friday that a case of tuberculosis (TB) has been diagnosed in an individual associated with the school.
According to a letter sent to parents and students, the school said the Gwinnett County Health Department is actively working to identify and test individuals who were in close and continuous contact with the affected person.
Testing will be provided free of charge by the health department for those identified as needing evaluation. Families of students requiring testing will receive a separate notification with specific instructions and additional details.
"The health and welfare of our students and staff is important to our community. The Health Department has provided information about TB that should answer many questions you might have. South Gwinnett High School will work with the Health Department, monitoring this situation closely and providing more information to you as it is available," the school's principal, Rodney Jordan, wrote in the letter.
South Gwinnett High School said the health department has provided key facts about TB for the school's community:
- Low transmission risk: TB is difficult to spread and requires prolonged, close contact to transmit.
- Infection vs. illness: Even if someone is infected with the TB germ, they cannot spread the disease unless they become ill, which can take years and only occurs in a small percentage of cases.
- Mandatory reporting and treatment: All TB cases are required by law to be reported, and individuals diagnosed with TB must undergo treatment to limit potential spread.
For more information about TB, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website here.