Investigation into Tuberculosis Case at Lloyd Memorial High School
ERLANGER, Ky. — The Northern Kentucky Health Department is looking into a tuberculosis case linked to Lloyd Memorial High School in Erlanger. They are reaching out to numerous students and staff who might have been in contact with the infected individual.
Health officials report that the person diagnosed with tuberculosis, often referred to as TB, is responding well to treatment. However, they haven’t disclosed whether the individual is a student or a staff member. Currently, between 55 and 70 people, who were in close proximity to this person, are being contacted for screening.
This news has understandably raised concerns among parents. Abby Wilson, whose daughter Bailee is a student at Lloyd Memorial, expressed her worries, saying, “It’s scary. I don’t know a whole lot about tuberculosis.” After receiving a call from the school about the case, she reached out to her daughter’s pediatrician for advice.
Wilson noted, “I hung up and immediately called her pediatrician before I got on Google.”
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that spreads through the air via individuals who have active TB disease. It often impacts the lungs and can lead to symptoms like a persistent cough, chest pain, blood in the cough, fatigue, and weight loss.
Matt Adams, the tuberculosis coordinator at the Northern Kentucky Health Department, is leading the investigation and is actively contacting those who may need testing. He reassured the public that there’s no immediate threat to the wider community.
“The general public, at this point, they don’t need to panic that someone in Erlanger has tuberculosis,” Adams stated. “It’s just those individuals that spent more time around this person.”
While there is a vaccine for tuberculosis, it is not commonly administered in the United States due to the relatively low number of cases compared to other regions. Adams emphasized that tuberculosis, while serious, is treatable. “With all the developments in public health and all the years of experience with public health, TB is very treatable,” he added. “Our drugs work; they work really well. People typically do well with them and improve quickly.”
With summer break underway, health officials mentioned that the likelihood of further exposure is reduced compared to when school is in session.
Wilson shared her hopes for the affected individual, stating, “I really hope that that child or student, staff member, or whoever it is, is okay and going to be okay with no long-term effects.”
The Northern Kentucky Health Department has set up a hotline for anyone with questions or concerns about the situation. The hotline number is (859)-363-2120.
Officials will keep notifying individuals believed to have had significant exposure and will ensure they receive testing and follow-up care as needed.
