Outbreak of ‘top contagious threat’ at Georgia high school leaves health officials confused

Hundreds of students and staff at a suburban Georgia high school are being tested for a Victorian-era disease considered the world’s biggest infection threat.

Health officials say up to 300 people may have been exposed to someone with an active tuberculosis infection at Walton High School in Cobb County, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.

Those at risk received letters this week requiring them to be tested by the school nurse or return a written doctor’s note confirming their negative test.

TB is a bacterial lung infection that affected more than 8 million people worldwide last year through droplets from coughing or sneezing.

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that tuberculosis is now the “leading infectious killer” worldwide, surpassing Covid.

Although the mortality rate for tuberculosis is about one in six worldwide, deaths from the infection, which has many initial symptoms of a common cold or cough, are rare in the U.S. because it can usually be treated with antibiotics.

However, experts have warned that the condition is on the rise in America due to growing poverty rates and a lack of testing.

A parent at Walton High School, pictured above, said: ‘I’m all for testing, definitely do it. But it worries me that it exists. That’s a concern

The Cobb & Douglas County Public Health Department told local news network Channel 2 Action News that it, along with school administrators, has identified those who may have been exposed to tuberculosis.

However, the department and district have not released exactly how many were exposed or any identifying information.

One student who was not tested told the network that other students who needed to be tested were notified at the start of the school day.

The unnamed student said: “Some children were given panties in their classrooms. I didn’t know there were that many.’

John Cullom, a parent of a Walton High School student, said, “I’m all for testing, definitely do it. But it worries me that it exists. That’s a concern.’

Health officials believe students or staff who were not tested Tuesday should go to their doctor for a checkup and bring back a written report with the results.

The health department will return to the school Thursday to read and measure responses to the tests.

A positive test would confirm exposure to active tuberculosis. The CDC estimates that as many as 13 million Americans have inactive tuberculosis, also called latent tuberculosis, which means they live with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis in their bodies but have no symptoms.

Early symptoms of tuberculosis include coughing, fever, night sweats and weight loss. But severe cases can be fatal by destroying objects from the inside

But latent tuberculosis can turn into active tuberculosis, which affected about 8,000 Americans and killed just over 600 people in 2022. Although rare in the US, experts have warned that tuberculosis is on the rise worldwide.

A CDC report found that 2023 saw the highest number of U.S. cases in the past decade.

Experts blame a lack of testing and reporting, as well as rising poverty, as poor access to basic health care and crowded living conditions could increase the risk of spreading the disease.

Early symptoms include coughing, fever, night sweats and weight loss.

But a severe tuberculosis infection can be fatal by destroying the organs from within, causing them to bleed and fill with fluid.

Tuberculosis is especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, such as people undergoing chemotherapy, but also for people who are generally more vulnerable, such as young children and the elderly.

Although a tuberculosis vaccine exists, it is generally not used in the U.S. and protection wanes over time, the CDC said.

Only people with active tuberculosis can transmit the disease to each other by coughing, speaking or singing.