Staff and students of Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School in Port Coquitlam have been informed about a case of tuberculosis in the school community but the risk is low and only those who are in close contact with the TB patient are being be tested for the respiratory disease.
Fraser Health medical officer Michelle Murti said a health alert was sent to the school this week to let families know that a case of TB was detected and is being followed up on. "If you have not been contacted by public health no further action is needed at this time," Murti said, adding that the person is not currently in the school community.
TB is an infectious respiratory disease that can be detected with a skin test and Fraser Health gets between 100 to 150 cases a year. Symptoms include fever, night sweats, coughing, sneezing and weight loss.
"It's actually not easy to spread, that's why we aren't concerned about the school community," Murti said. However, she said the school was contacted as part of the protocol for handling the disease.
Lorraine Paruzzolo, principal of the school for 600 Grade 8-12 students, said information from Fraser Health is being passed on to the school community.
"What ever we know we've sent out to the parents They (Fraser Health) are following all their protocols and ensuring we will follow ours."
