MARIETTA, Ga. — Approximately 300 students and staff at Walton High School in Marietta are getting tested on Tuesday after a possible tuberculosis (TB) exposure, health officials said.
According to Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH), students and staff were tested at the high school on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and will return to receive their test results on Thursday, Oct. 31.
"CDPH and the School’s administration have identified those who may have been exposed to TB germs and will be administering a mandatory Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) to those individuals," the CDPH wrote.
A spokesperson for Cobb County Schools said the district "continues to work closely with the local public health department to protect student and staff health while respecting medical privacy."
What to do if you've been notified and haven't been tested for TB
CDPH officials said that TB testing is mandatory, and if the notified students and faculty did not get tested on Tuesday, they would need to see their private physician to be tested.
"Because the testing is mandatory, if they do not receive the TST at the school today, they will be responsible for providing a written report on a physician’s office letterhead verifying the test was completed, with the date and test result before they will be permitted to return to school," the CDPH said.
What does a positive tuberculosis test result mean?
According to health officials, a positive test means they have been exposed to someone with tuberculosis.
For those with a positive reaction, the CDPH said they would then have a chest X-ray. At that point, if the X-ray is negative, they'll be offered preventative medication. However, if the chest X-ray is positive, they'll receive treatment for the disease.
More information about TB from East Cobb Pediatrics
East Cobb Pediatrics also wrote a letter with more information about tuberculosis (TB).
"We would like to reiterate that those students who did not receive a letter from the DPH
do NOT need to be tested and were deemed safe from potential exposure by the DPH," East Cobb Pediatrics wrote.
Health officials said testing can be done via a blood or skin test.
"For the TB skin test, a small needle will be used to put testing material under the skin. The skin will then need to be re-evaluated in 2 days to see if there was a reaction," East Cobb Pediatrics added. "We understand that receiving this letter could be distressing for your family, but we want to reassure you that the Department of Health will appropriately screen for any potential infection. We ask that you please cooperate with their efforts to make sure your student is properly monitored post-exposure."
To read East Cobb Pediatrics' full letter, click here. For more information about tuberculosis, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website here.
11Alive has also contacted the Georgia Department of Public Health for additional information.
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