Tuberculosis Outbreak? TB Infects 27 Kansas High School Students

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Over 27 people were found to be infected with tuberculosis at the Olathe Northwest High School in Olathe, Kansas according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in a report by Time.

300 students and staff members of the school were tested on March 18, after a case of tubercolosis disease was confirmed.

"The number of individuals with TB infection does not exceed what we would anticipate in this setting," said Lougene Marsh, the director of the Jonhson County Department of Health and Environment, in a press release statement. "Of course, we had hoped we wouldn't find any additional TB cases, but we knew this was a possibility."

The department took thorough measures to test everyone who might have had close contact with the individual who was infected with tuberculosis disease.

According to Huffington Post, the 27 individuals who tested positive for the tuberculosis infection were not contagious, meaning they have not shown symptoms. However, the infection could turn to tuberculosis disease when not handled right away and administered with antibiotic treatment.

The individuals who were tested positive for the infection will take chest x-rays and a course of antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria  and prevent any potential outbreak of the disease.

For those who were tested negative but may have had contact with the first confirmed case during class will also be re-tested on May 5, according to the article. It takes up to eight weeks for the bacteria to show up in a test.

According to a data and statistics by the CDC, tuberculosis is "one of the world's deadliest diseases" as 1/3 of the world's population is infection with tuberculosis disease.  There have been over 1.5 million deaths worldwide caused by tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis, according to WHO, is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a preventable and curable disease that attacks and affects the lungs. The bacterium is airborne, meaning it can be spread and transported through the air. People with lung tuberculosis infect others through their sneeze, cough, or spit.

People with weak immune systems (people with HIV, diabetes, and people who are tobacco users) have a higher risk of getting the tuberculosis disease. Some symptoms of an active TB disease include fever, cough, night sweats, and weight loss. In the first few months, the symptoms may be mild and can result in the infection of others to close contact. Through effective diagnosis and treatment, the TB disease can be cured.