Gig Harbor High School student diagnosed with tuberculosis

GIG HARBOR, Wash. -- Pierce County health officials are monitoring a high school student who was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

The Gig Harbor High School student is not currently attending classes and will not return to school until there is no public health concern, officials said.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is working with the Peninsula School District to make sure those with exposure risk are tested for TB.

Officials said the infection risk to students and staff is low. The health department has recommended a TB screening test to 103 Gig Harbor High School students and for staff members. Officials have notified those families and the free screenings will be offered next week.

Here is more info from the health department:

What is TB?
Bacteria causes TB, and antibiotics cure it. The two stages of TB are infection and disease. A person who has latent TB infection is not sick and can’t infect other people. People with latent TB infection can develop active TB.

How TB spreads
A person with lung TB can spread the disease when he or she:
• Coughs or sneezes.
• Shouts, laughs or sings.
It doesn’t spread by sharing clothing, sharing eating utensils, kissing or hugging, or sexual activity. It doesn't spread in outdoor environments, where sunlight kills the bacteria.

Who is most at risk?
It is not easy to catch TB. Those who live with a person with active TB disease are usually most at risk of becoming infected. For more information about TB, visit www.tpchd.org/TB. You may also call (253) 798-6410.