Parents have been issued an urgent warning after a case of a deadly Victorian disease was identified at a UK school.
The warning comes as a single case of tuberculosis (TB) was confirmed in a Welsh secondary school. Over 1,200 pupils and teachers were in contact with the student who was found to have the illness after completing a TB screening as a precaution. The case is now being investigated by Public Health Wales as well as Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Newport City Council.
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease becomes the most contagious when it affects the lungs and only spreads following prolonged exposure to someone with the illness - for example passing from person to person living in the same household.
In most cases, healthy people with a strong immune system can kill off the bacteria and experience no symptoms. However, sometimes the immune system is unable to tackle the bacteria.
The infection can then spread to the lungs or other parts of the body, with symptoms appearing within a few weeks or months. This is called 'active TB'.
At the moment, no outbreak of the potentially fatal infection has been declared, Wales Online reports, with health chiefs stating local GPs have been made aware.
Chair of Public Health Wales' incident management team and active consultant at health protection, James Adamson, explained: “Following established infection control procedures we have identified people who may have had contact with the individual concerned.
"These individuals have been contacted and offered screening for TB which is easily treated with a course of antibiotics. Local GPs have been informed.
“This is a routine process, and if any other positive TB infections are identified as a result, appropriate treatment will be offered.
"TB is difficult to transmit. It requires close and prolonged contact with an infectious individual for a person to become infected.
"In this instance, and to limit the potential spread of infection, we are treating all pupils and teachers who may have had contact with the individual as close personal contacts.
"I would stress that the risk of infection with TB to the general public remains very low. However, we encourage parents, pupils and staff members to be aware of the symptoms."
Despite officials stating the risk to the general public is low, it is important to note the symptoms of TB in order to look out for the potential warning signs of the deadly Victorian disease.
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis (TB)?
According to NHS Inform, the symptoms of tuberculosis include:
- a persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and usually brings up phlegm, which may be bloody
- weight loss
- night sweats
- high temperature (fever)
- tiredness and fatigue
- loss of appetite
- new swellings that haven't gone away after a few weeks
If you or a loved one have a cough that lasts more than three weeks or cough up blood a GP appointment should be made as soon as possible.
You can find out more about the disease on the NHS Inform website here.
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