New group of Clint students, staff tested for tuberculosis

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health has released the latest information on the tuberculosis (TB) exposure at Frank Macias Elementary.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Health Dept. has tested about 70 school staff members and 10 students who are part of the second group to be tested for TB.

Also, four students from the first group who the Health Dept. were previously unable to contact were tested Wednesday.

The results of these tests will likely not be made available to the public until some time next week.

Preliminary results from the first group of Frank Elementary School students and staff tested were released Monday afternoon with more than 20 percent of those tested at that time testing positive for the disease.

The 163 students and eight staff members were exposed to an active case of TB.

Of 155 students and staff tested as of Monday, 35 tested positive and 120 tested negative. Two tests are pending. Of the positive cases, 29 are children and six are adults

The Health Dept. will began testing a second group of students and staff identified as having possibly been exposed. This second group includes about 40 new students and all staff – about 100 individuals – at Frank Macias Elementary.

Testing will be done at the school and is expected to be completed by the end of this week. Just as in the first group, parents of the students identified as possibly exposed will receive a letter informing them about the need to test their child.

City of El Paso Department of Health officials stressed that TB is a treatable bacterial disease and that it’s not like the old days where people with TB were just sequestered.

The Health Department also is reminding the public that TB is not uncommon in the El Paso area.

Last year, 44 cases of TB were identified in the greater El Paso region with 55 in 2013 and 38 in 2012.

Learn About TB

What is TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.

What are the Symptoms of TB?
The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.

How is TB spread?
TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection.

What is the difference between latent TB infection and TB disease?
People with latent TB infection (LTBI) have TB germs in their bodies, but they are not sick because the germs are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease and they cannot spread the germs to others. However, they may develop TB disease in the future. They are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB disease.

People with TB disease are sick from TB germs that are active, meaning that they are multiplying and destroying tissue in their body. They usually have symptoms of TB disease. People with TB disease of the lungs or throat are capable of spreading germs to others. They are prescribed drugs that can treat TB disease.

What should I do if I have spent time with someone with latent TB infection?
A person with latent TB infection cannot spread germs to other people. You do not need to be tested if you have spent time with someone with latent TB infection. However, if you have spent time with someone with TB disease or someone with symptoms of TB, you should be tested.

What should I do if I have been exposed to someone with TB disease?
People with TB disease are most likely to spread the germs to people they spend time with every day, such as family members or coworkers. If you have been around someone who has TB disease, you should go to your doctor or your local health department for tests.

How do you get tested for TB?
There are two tests that can be used to help detect TB infection: a skin test or a special TB blood test. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm. A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm. The special TB blood test measures how the patient’s immune system reacts to the germs that cause TB.

What does a positive test for TB infection mean?
A positive test for TB infection only tells that a person has been infected with TB germs. It does not tell whether or not the person has progressed to TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease.

What is BCG?

Bacille Calmette-Gurin, or BCG, is a vaccine for TB disease. BCG is used in many countries, but it is not generally recommended in the United States. BCG vaccination does not completely prevent people from getting TB. It may also cause a false positive tuberculin skin test. However, persons who have been vaccinated with BCG can be given a tuberculin skin test or special TB blood test.

Why is latent TB infection treated?
If you have latent TB infection but not TB disease, your doctor may want you to take a drug to kill the TB germs and prevent you from developing TB disease. The decision about taking treatment for latent infection will be based on your chances of developing TB disease. Some people are more likely than others to develop TB disease once they have TB infection. This includes people with HIV infection, people who were recently exposed to someone with TB disease, and people with certain medical conditions.

How is TB disease treated?
TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat. In some situations, local health department staff meets regularly with patients who have TB to watch them take their medications. This is called directly observed therapy (DOT). DOT helps the patient complete treatment in the least amount of time.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there were 1,222 cases of tuberculosis (TB) reported in 2013.

El Paso’s TB Cases In Recent Years:
2013: 49
2012: 37
2011: 37
2010: 48
2009: 57
2008: 68
2007: 40

Who gets TB?

In Texas, 51 percent of reported TB cases in 2013 were among Hispanics, 19 percent were among African Americans, 14 percent percent were among Whites, and 16 percent were among Asians, according to Texas Department of State Health Services.

TB rates are higher along the Texas-Mexico border.
Co-infection with TB and diabetes is also more common along the border than in the rest of the state. TB/HIV co-infection is more commonly found in urban areas of Texas.

In 2013, six people in Texas were diagnosed with multi-drug resistant TB. One case of extensively drug resistant TB, a type of TB that is resistant to most drugs typically used for treatment, was reported in Texas. Centers for Disease Control Information On Tuberculosis