Up to 500 students at James Logan High School in Union City must undergo tuberculosis testing after they came in contact with someone who has an active case of the illness.
School officials sent a note home to parents of the 4,100 students at James Logan to let them know about the case. They haven't said whether the infected person is a student or staff member, only that that person is "associated with the school," Union City Patch reported.
Principal Amy McNamara told staff at an emergency meeting Friday night that the person was receiving treatment and is not longer on the campus.
The school is working with the Alameda County Public Health Department on the case. More students may have to be tested if it's determined they came into contact with the infested person.
Rick LaPlante, spokesman for the New Haven Unified School District said the chances of the disease spreading are "very, very slim," but testing is being done as part of a cautionary measure.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that usually attacks the lungs but can also attack other organs, including the kidneys, spine and brain, according to the CDC. It's spread through the air from one person to another and if it's not treated, can become fatal. Some of the symptoms include a bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer, pain in the chest, fever, and chills.
