School bus driver tests positive for TB, prompting mass screening
Student bus riders, DPW employees, and even superior court jurors are anticipated to be screened for tuberculosis.
December 30, 2014Updated: December 30, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Krystal Paco
Guam - Student bus riders, Department of Public Works employees, and even superior court jurors are anticipated to be screened for tuberculosis. This after an active case was confirmed from a school bus driver.
According to a release from the Department of Public Health, the bus driver was responsible for Bus #72 - a route that includes students from Daniel L. Perez Elementary School, Upi Elementary School, Machanao Elementary School, Francisco B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, and Simon Sanchez High School. Although students are currently on Christmas Break, Department of Education deputy superintendent Rob Malay confirms individual student testings will be held on January 20th with follow up testings to take place three months after.
Malay says all affected schools will be on high alert for any symptoms related to TB, all of which must be reported to the school nurse.
But testings won't stop there. Public Health indicates that all DPW employees identified as close contacts as well as those who may have served in jury duty with the infected individual must also be screened and will be notified by letter and provided information regarding their TB skin test.
Those who are identified and as close contacts and fail to complete the screening will be excluded from school, work, and jury duty until the skin test is completed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, TB symptoms include a bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or sputum, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever, and sweating at night. That typically attacks a person's lungs. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.
TB is caused by a baceterium that's carried through the air in infectious droplet nuclei too small for the naked eye. These droplets are produced when an infected individual sneezes, coughs, speaks, or sings.
Public health advises residents that TB bacteria is not spread through handshakes, sitting on toilet seats, or sharing dishes and utensils and that exposure to TB doesn't necessarily result in one contracting the disease.
Instead, it takes anywhere from two to 12 weeks to show evidence of a TB infection as most people who are exposed might be able to keep the infection inactive or latent.
Public health will provide TB skin tests for free starting January 5th to all identified contacts. Tests may also be obtained through a private clinic.
For more information, call the TB Control Program at 735-7145/57.
Guam - Student bus riders, Department of Public Works employees, and even superior court jurors are anticipated to be screened for tuberculosis. This after an active case was confirmed from a school bus driver.
According to a release from the Department of Public Health, the bus driver was responsible for Bus #72 - a route that includes students from Daniel L. Perez Elementary School, Upi Elementary School, Machanao Elementary School, Francisco B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, and Simon Sanchez High School. Although students are currently on Christmas Break, Department of Education deputy superintendent Rob Malay confirms individual student testings will be held on January 20th with follow up testings to take place three months after.
Malay says all affected schools will be on high alert for any symptoms related to TB, all of which must be reported to the school nurse.
But testings won't stop there. Public Health indicates that all DPW employees identified as close contacts as well as those who may have served in jury duty with the infected individual must also be screened and will be notified by letter and provided information regarding their TB skin test.
Those who are identified and as close contacts and fail to complete the screening will be excluded from school, work, and jury duty until the skin test is completed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, TB symptoms include a bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or sputum, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever, and sweating at night. That typically attacks a person's lungs. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.
TB is caused by a baceterium that's carried through the air in infectious droplet nuclei too small for the naked eye. These droplets are produced when an infected individual sneezes, coughs, speaks, or sings.
Public health advises residents that TB bacteria is not spread through handshakes, sitting on toilet seats, or sharing dishes and utensils and that exposure to TB doesn't necessarily result in one contracting the disease.
Instead, it takes anywhere from two to 12 weeks to show evidence of a TB infection as most people who are exposed might be able to keep the infection inactive or latent.
Public health will provide TB skin tests for free starting January 5th to all identified contacts. Tests may also be obtained through a private clinic.
For more information, call the TB Control Program at 735-7145/57.