Four more people diagnosed with tuberculosis after positive case at Olathe high school
Four more people tested positive for tuberculosis in Olathe after a high school student was diagnosed earlier this month, according to the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
After the Olathe Northwest High School student tested positive for tuberculosis, health officials identified around 425 contacts to be tested Oct. 12 at the school.
The department identified four more positive cases out of the 273 people who consented to be tested. Those individuals are asymptomatic, and the health department said it will follow up with them.
A second round of testing for all contacts will take place Nov. 14 because it can take eight to 10 weeks for bacteria to appear positive on a TB test.
Health officials previously said the majority of contacts have connections to Olathe Northwest, but some live outside of Johnson County.
The department said previously that the risk to the public is low since tuberculosis can only be spread through frequent and prolonged exposure to someone with an active case. Symptoms include a long cough, coughing blood, fever, chills or night sweats.
This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 12:04 PM.
