Kentridge High School, located in Kent, Washington, is currently facing a tuberculosis (TB) scare as Public Health Insider (PHI) recommends 135 people associated with the school to be evaluated for the disease. According to PHI, this action comes after a school community member was diagnosed with TB.
Contact tracing was conducted by PHI, and individuals were contacted based on their exposure to the person with TB in indoor spaces. The reported exposure occurred from March to September of 2023. Those who need an evaluation will be contacted by the Kent School District (KSD).
Fortunately, the person at Kentridge High School who has been diagnosed with TB is currently receiving treatment and is not currently a risk for infecting others, according to PHI. However, those who are found to be infected with latent TB infection, which can be treated in three to four months, may still be recommended for treatment to prevent the development of the disease in the future.
TB is an airborne disease that spreads when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings, releasing TB bacteria into the air. People nearby can breathe in these bacteria and become infected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the importance of preventing the spread of TB through early diagnosis and treatment.
In King County, where Kentridge High School is located, 111 new cases of TB were reported in 2022. On average, about two cases of TB disease are diagnosed in King County each week.
As the evaluation process begins, the Kentridge High School community will be closely monitoring the situation and following the guidance provided by PHI and the KSD. The health and safety of all individuals involved remain a top priority, and efforts will be made to prevent any further spread of the disease within the school or the wider community.
Updates on the situation will be provided as more information becomes available.