A Las Vegas elementary school has notified people that a person at the campus was diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Christina Miani, the principal of Helen Jydstrup Elementary School, notified families that a person was recently diagnosed, though no identifying information was released.
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted between people in close, repeated contact by breathing the same air over a period of time. It is not transmitted through touching or handling objects.
Miani wrote that the Southern Nevada Health District will work with the school to discuss any possible student health concerns and to create a testing plan for close contacts.
Students are considered at risk of infection if they came in close, personal contact with the person diagnosed with TB over a period of time.
A tuberculin test is mandatory and required by law, and the Health District will coordinate testing for students and faculty in identified classes.
Those tests will start on Thursday for staff at no charge. Parents will have the option to take students to Quest for testing at no charge as well. Follow-up testing will also start the week of March 20.
Anyone with concerns is asked to contact the Health District.
According to an SNHD spokesman, there were 54 cases of TB reported in Clark County in 2021, the most recent full year with statistics available. Forty-six cases were reported through October last year, per Health District figures.
FULL LETTER TO PARENTS & FAMILIES:
Dear Parent/Guardian/Faculty:
Recently a person at Helen Jydstrup Elementary was diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted between persons who are in close, repeated contact by breathing the same air over a period of time. Tuberculosis is not transmitted through touching or handling objects.
The Southern Nevada Health District is working with us to discuss possible student health concerns and create a testing plan for close contacts. They are currently advising us that students who are possibly at risk of infection are those who came in close, personal contact with this person over a period of time.
A tuberculin test is mandatory and required by law, according to NRS 44lA.365. The Southern Nevada Health District will therefore be coordinating the testing of students and faculty in identified classes. Testing will start on January 26 for identified classes at no charge to the staff being tested. Parents will be given the option to take their students to Quest Laboratories for testing at no charge.
This letter is simply to inform you of this health situation. According to the Southern Nevada Health District, students other than those in the above circumstances are not considered to be at risk. Additional notices will be sent to those who meet the criteria for testing. TB follow-up testing will start the week of March 20, and reminders will be sent closer to that date
If you have concerns and wish to discuss this situation, please contact The Southern Nevada Health District at 702-759-1015.