TB confirmed at Durham high school

A case of tuberculosis has been confirmed at a Durham District School Board high school.

Parents whose children attend O’Neill Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Oshawa say they received an email notice on Tuesday.

In a note on the board’s website, the board says the student with tuberculosis is “on treat- ment and doing well” and the general student population is not at risk.

“The Health Department assures us that the general school population is at very low risk of exposure,” the note reads.

“Only those with close, prolonged contact (i.e. spent a lot of time in close contact with the ill individual) are at risk and should be tested for TB.”

School board officials said privacy laws prevent them from providing details about the ill student or the circumstances of his/her illness. The Durham Region Health Department is working with the school board to identify people who were in contact with the student in question.

People who need to be tested for tuberculosis will receive a phone call or letter from the health department — those who are not contacted do not need testing.

Screening clinics will be held July 16 and 17 for those who require tuberculin skin testing — results will be provided at followup clinics on July 18 and 19.

The clinics are by appointment only.