According to the Sachem School District, 116 students and seven staff members were identified as having had extended contact with the infected student and received tests on the school campus on Monday. The people tested received TB skin tests administered by the Suffolk County Health Department. The results of these tests generally take 48 hours to process.
So far, no additional case has been confirmed within the school community, but the investigation is underway.
The parents concerned require more information and greater transparency of school and health officials. “What is done to ensure children’s safety when we, as parents or tutors, send them to school?” Asked Janie Gallo, a resident and parent of Farmingville.
Tuberculosis is a potentially serious bacterial infection that generally affects the lungs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that tuberculosis spreads in the air when a person with active TB disease cough, sneezing or talks. Symptoms may include persistent cough, chest pain, fatigue and fever.
Currently, the New York State Health Department reports that there were 16 cases of confirmed tuberculosis in the county of Suffolk and 18 in the neighboring county of Nassau this year – figures in accordance with last year data for the same period.
Health officials say that people initially tested this week will have to undergo another series of tests in July, once the incubation period of standard tuberculosis of two months has passed.
