Tuberculosis exposure at Champaign school under investigation

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has identified someone associated with Edison Middle School who has contagious tuberculosis.

CUPHD is evaluating students and staff who have been exposed. People who may have had prolonged exposure were sent a joint email from CUPHD and Unit 4 with directions on where and when to get evaluated.

If you do not get an email, there is no need to test based on the current investigation.

The most common way someone can become infected with TB bacteria is by spending a significant amount of time in an enclosed space with poor ventilation with a person who has active TB.

There is a difference between TB infection and TB disease. People with TB disease are sick from the bacteria that are active in their bodies. They may cough, feel weak, lose weight, have a fever, cough up blood, or have night sweats.

Those with the disease can spread TB bacteria to others.

People with TB infection without disease have TB bacteria in their body but are not sick because the bacteria are inactive. They cannot spread TB bacteria to others.

About one in ten people with TB infection get sick with the disease. TB can be treated and cured.

Anyone with questions can call CUPHD at (217) 531-4341.