A person with active tuberculosis may have exposed others at two Chula Vista elementary schools in the past several months, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) said Monday.
The person, who recently began treatment for active tuberculosis, spent time at both Harborside Elementary School and Castle Park Middle School, health officials said. It is unclear if the person is a student, teacher or employee.
HHSA officials are working with Chula Vista Elementary School District and the Sweetwater Unified School District officials to notify people who may have been exposed to the disease.
At Harborside Elementary School, located at 681 Naples St. in Chula Vista, the exposure period is from March 15 to June 6. School officials will offer free testing for students who may have been exposed on Aug. 31.
At Castle Park Middle School, located at 160 Quintard St. in Chula Vista, students have been exposed from July 20 to Aug. 10. The school will offer free testing for students who may have been exposed on Aug. 31.
TB generally requires many hours of close, sustained indoor contact to spread.
“Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease, but when it does occur, it can be treated and cured with medication; that’s why it’s important to identify those who have been exposed,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer, in a statement.
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Symptoms of active TB include a cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
According to health officials, TB has been decreasing in San Diego County, though it is not uncommon, Wooten said.
There have been 132 cases of TB reported in the county in 2016 to date. There were 234 cases reported last year and 220 in 2014.
Call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621 for more information about the potential exposure.
