Health officials say a high school student in Olathe (oh-LAY-thuh) has contracted tuberculosis and is now being treated. More from Heartland Health Monitor’s Dan Margolies (MAR-go-leez).
==========
(SCRIPT)
The student, who was not identified, attends Olathe Northwest High School. Health officials said the student was complying with isolation procedures. TB is caused by a bacterium that usually attacks the lungs but can attack any part of the body. If not properly treated with antibiotics, it can be fatal. The disease is spread through the air via coughing, sneezing, speaking or singing. Phil Griffin, TB controller at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said more than 300 individuals could have been exposed to the student.
“But that’s a variety of ranges from low to medium risk.”
This is the second confirmed case of TB in Johnson County this year. Last year there were 40 cases diagnosed statewide. Dan Margolies, Heartland Health Monitor