The Baltimore County Department of Health is expanding its investigation of tuberculosis at Catonsville High School. An additional 11 people within the Catonsville High School community have been asked to obtain a TB screening test from their own health care providers or at a Department of Health clinic, according to a press release issued Monday.
The principal at Catonsville High School sent home a letter dated May 11 informing parents of the expanded investigation.
"I want to reassure you that this is a routine action by the health department that this is part of the investigation of a single case of tuberculosis disease," Principal William Heiser said in his letter.
Tuberculosis is a serious, potentially deadly infection of the lungs that spreads through the air when a person with TB coughs or even breathes.
No other cases of TB have been reported within the school community, according to Monique Lyle, spokeswoman for the department. The expanded testing is based on additional information received from the infected person, she said.
The identity of the person infected with TB has not been identified. Nor has the health department said whether it's a student or staff member.
Parents were first notified of a case of tuberculosis in the school community April 22, by an automated phone call from the principal. A letter about the investigation went home to parents on April 23, informing them that a small number of the school community, including students, might have been exposed to TB. These individuals were asked to get TB testing.
Heiser said in his May 11 letter that he will send further notification if additional potential contacts for screening are identified.