LAS VEGAS – In December, the Southern Nevada Health District announced it was conducting a multi-site tuberculosis investigation in coordination with the Clark County School District. The investigation involves a person who had undiagnosed active TB disease and was at multiple school district campuses. Based on the Health District’s investigation, the patient had minimal close contact with people at most of the campuses where they were present. However, students and staff at Ruthe Deskin Elementary School were identified as having potential TB exposure. Notifications were conducted for all individuals identified as close contacts of the patient and screening and testing clinics were held.
To date, more than 550 students and staff members have been tested for TB infection. No additional active cases of TB disease have been reported. If an individual receives a positive screening test, they undergo further clinical evaluation to determine if they are not contagious (latent tuberculosis).
The Health District continues to emphasize that not everyone who may have been exposed will be infected and not everyone who is infected with TB has active disease. People who have latent tuberculosis infection have no signs or symptoms of the disease. They are not sick and cannot spread the disease to others.
The Southern Nevada Health District remains committed to conducting immediate and thorough investigations of all known active TB cases as they are reported, with the goal of identifying individuals at risk of exposure. The Health District offers treatment for those people who are exposed and found to have a TB infection to prevent the development of active TB disease and avoid future exposures to active TB cases in the community.
More information about TB is available on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/tb/default.htm. People who received notifications and have additional questions about the Health District investigation can call its Information Line at (702) 759-INFO (4636) or (866) 767-5038, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.