CALHOUN COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — Health officials are taking action to stop a deadly disease from spreading in Calhoun County.
They say recently, one student at Wellborn High School was diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Many parents and students said they feel they understand more about TB and what the health department is doing to make sure they have a handle on this.
It was a packed gym at Wellborn High School Tuesday night. Parents and students wanting to know what’s going on.
“When I found out I was like I don’t want to come to school anymore,’” said senior student Desire Richey.
A student was recently diagnosed with tuberculosis, an infection that turns into a disease and can be deadly if not treated.
That’s why the Alabama Department of Public Health is stepping in.
“We’ve been doing this for many years and we don’t want to cause a panic. It’s something that needs to be taken care of,” said Pam Barrett, the director of the division of TB control under the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Barrett spoke to students and parents at the meeting about TB.
She said often, people think it’s a different illness, but it’s much worse, and it can take weeks, even months before TB is out of anyone’s system.
“You could have the infection your whole life and never get sick but you could if you didn’t take the preventive medicine,” said Barrett.
After Tuesday’s meeting, faculty and families said they feel a little at ease.
“At first I was a little scared but after hearing what they had to say, it kind of reassured me a little bit,” said Whitney Layton, who has children at the high school and elementary school.
“I’m not worried. I’m very confident on what I heard from the Alabama department of public health and what we’re doing as a system school-wide so I feel good,” said Chris Hayes, principal of Wellborn High School.
Officials said it’s important to know this is not considered an outbreak because the few cases in Calhoun County are not related.
TB is spread through the air but only in closed areas.
The TB testing is going on Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. at Wellborn High School.
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