SAN DIEGO–Staff and students at Sweetwater and Serra High Schools may have been exposed to active tuberculosis, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
The agency says the possible individual exposure to TB at Sweetwater High School occurred between July 20 and Oct. 25, and at Serra High School between Aug. 29 and Nov. 7.
Individuals that may have been exposed will receive no cost testing Nov. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Sweetwater High School, and Dec. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Serra High School.
Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
“Tuberculosis is a contagious but preventable and curable disease that spreads through the air,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease.
“If it does occur it can be treated and cured with medication, so that’s why it’s important to identify those who may have been exposed.”
The agency has reported 182 TB cases to date in 2016. There were 234 cases reported in San Diego County in 2015.
For more information on this potential exposure, call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621.
