3 more test positive for TB at Frank Macias Elementary in Horizon

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health has identified three more individuals who have tested positive for tuberculosis after re-testing was conducted last week at Frank Macias Elementary in Horizon City.

Health Dept. officials say re-testing is a standard procedure and is conducted eight to ten weeks after the last possible exposure to an active case of TB. They also said it is not unusual to find new positives during re-testing because enough time has passed for the bacteria to incubate and for the body to produce the necessary reaction to create a positive test result.

Further testing for those who are negative a second time will not be necessary based on this investigation.

“We want to make sure that parents, students, and staff realize that returning to school next week is safe, and that the Department of Public Health encourages everyone involved to get back to the important process of learning,” said Robert Resendes, Public Health Director.

The following is the most recent information regarding the re-testing at Frank Macias Elementary:

Group #1 Re-testing

Group #2 Re-Testing

127 Students Previously Negative

2 Staff Previously Negative

Re-Testing Results

93 Total Retested

84 Negative

3 Positive

6 Pending Results

36 Pending Re-Testing

16 Students Previously Negative

80 Staff Previously Negative

Re-Testing Results

83 Total Retested

83 Negative

0 Positive

0 Pending Results

13 Pending Re-Testing

Those who tested positive during the re-test will go through the same procedures as those who tested positive earlier on. After chest x-rays and/or sputum samples are reviewed, they will be offered medication to prevent the disease from becoming active if it is indicated.

Re-testing also took place with the halfway house investigation. Results from those tests are not expected until late next week.