Chester-Upland Students Screened For TB
CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- A public school in Chester (Delaware County) is dealing with concerns after a student was exposed to tuberculosis. But officials say there's nothing to worry about.
Two thirds of the kids at the "Science and Discovery" satellite campus of Chester High School received tests, and 20 of them came up positive for latent TB, a non-contagious form of the disease that shows up in five to ten percent of the general population.
None of them has an active infection, according to acting Chester-Upland schools superintendent Dr. Joyce Wells. She says a warning from the state health department prompted her to send letters to parents last week in advance of the voluntary tests.
"I met with the students of the school along with our lead nurse," Wells told KYW Newsradio, "to have a discussion about the findings and about tuberculosis."
Those who tested positive will get followup x-rays and be encouraged to take medication. The students who did not get tested will be afforded the chance to do so over the holidays.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060.
