ELYRIA — An Elyria High School student has recently been diagnosed with tuberculosis, prompting school and health officials to test the entire student and teacher population for the treatable yet infectious disease.

Parents can learn more about tuberculosis, also known as TB, testing clinics at an informational meeting 7 p.m. today in the school auditorium.

Click here for TB facts and what you need to watch for.

The Lorain County Tuberculosis Clinic alerted school officials Wednesday of the student’s diagnosis. In turn, school officials sent out an AlertNow phone blast to parents Wednesday and mailed letters to each student’s home alerting parents to the important meeting at EHS.

The student, who has active pulmonary TB, is being treated by a doctor and recovering well at home, said Amy Higgins, district spokeswoman.

“The student has been out of school for quite a length of time, and we are just taking the necessary precautions because there has been a confirmed case,” she said.

As a result, all students and staff of the high school will have a free TB skin test in the coming days.

Teachers and staff were tested Wednesday and students will be skin-tested in two groups on Monday and Tuesday with parents’ permission.

Elyria Health Commissioner Kathy Boylan said the skin tests are “very easy and common for health officials to administer.” The test is done by a pain-free prick of the skin where a small amount of TB protein is injected under the skin’s surface. Boylan said health officials will return to the school in 48 hours to “read” the results, which amounts to looking for a reaction at the testing site.

Teachers will have their tests read on Friday. Students tested on Monday will have their tests read on Wednesday and students tested on Tuesday will have their tests read on Friday.

Because TB is an airborne disease in which people can be exposed in normal everyday situations, carriers of TB can have the germs in their bodies and not become sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is called latent TB and cannot be spread to anyone else.

However, if the inactive germs become active and multiply, a person will become sick and can spread the disease.

Still, Boylan wants parents to know that the building is completely safe and there is absolutely no reason to panic or keep students out of school.

“If you are walking around in this world breathing, you can be exposed to it,” she said. “This just gives me another opportunity to say my favorite things, which are covering your mouth when you cough, stay home if you are sick and wash your hands frequently. This is important whether you are talking about TB, H1N1 or any other disease. It’s important that you know how to protect your own health.”

Higgins said the building will not require a special cleaning because it is not a surface disease, but is airborne.

According to the CDC, TB is caused by a bacterium that usually attacks the lungs. If not treated properly, the disease can be fatal.

However, medical advances have made the disease very treatable and curable. TB can be treated by medicine, although treatment typically lasts six to 12 months, said the CDC. Parents can direct health-related questions to MaryAnn Manning, R.N., at the Lorain County Tuberculosis Clinic at (440) 322-8818.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

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