Summit County health officials have confirmed a case of tuberculosis disease in a person associated with North High School in Akron.
Health officials, citing patient privacy laws, will not identify the person.
A news release issued by Summit County Public Health, the county’s health department, on Thursday said the person was a “member of the North High School community.”
Tuberculosis — an uncommon and potentially serious illness that usually involves the lungs — is not spread by casual contact, said Dr. Marguerite Erme, medical director of the Summit County Public Health.
She said there is no reason to panic: “Most people who get exposed do not get TB disease.”
TB disease “is not something you’re going to pick up from passing someone in the hallway, sitting next to someone in the library, sharing the bathroom,” she said. “It is not easily passed from person to person.”
It is spread through the air by close, prolonged contact when a person coughs, speaks, laughs or sings, according to the news release.
While the news release issued Thursday morning said health officials were investigating a “suspected case of tuberculosis,” Erme, medical director of the Summit County Public Health, said in a subsequent telephone interview that lab results confirm that the person has the disease.
Summit County Public Health will send letters to students and teachers at North High School informing them of the confirmed case. People who are identified as high risk of exposure will receive a letter about the need for screening.
Summit County Public Health officials have set up a TB information line at 330-926-5795. Additional information is available at the Summit County Public Health website at www.scph.org.
The heath department said almost all cases of TB are curable with proper treatment and medication. “While TB is contagious, it is not very easy for the disease to spread from person to person. Therefore, there is minimal risk to the greater Summit County public,” the news release said.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.