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S.C. (WCSC) — A confirmed case of tuberculosis has been identified at Summerville High School
The South Carolina Department of Public Health determined that the infectious period was toward the end of the 2025-2026 school year and that the individual was not diagnosed with the disease until recently
Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs
The disease can spread when one inhales the bacteria after an infected person has coughed, sneezed or talked
Once the diagnosis was confirmed, the Department of Public Health immediately began its contact tracing and notified the district
In an email sent to families Monday, Dorchester School District Two stated that families of students identified as having potentially come into contact with the tuberculosis germ will receive a second letter with information about recommended testing and available testing options
Dr. Rebecca Partridge, a pediatric hospitalist physician, said the disease does not spread through casual contact
“So not from shaking hands. You can’t get it from just regular contact. You’re not really at risk from just walking down a hall, but close contact where you’re breathing in the same area as the person with tuberculosis,” Partridge said
Partridge said the health department is working to identify those who need to be aware of their potential exposure
“The health department is doing a great job tracking down those people that need to be aware of it,” she said. “Certainly, if you’ve had a severe cough that’s lasted for more than three weeks, if you’re having fevers or night sweats, it’s always good to get checked by your pediatrician.”
There is currently no vaccine generally used in the U.S. against tuberculosis. Partridge said exposure does not guarantee infection
“Just because you’ve been exposed doesn’t mean that you have the disease. In fact, only about 5% of people who come in contact with tuberculosis will develop the disease within the first year or two. But it’s something that can be really serious. And so, we need to be aware of and take precautions,” Partridge said
She said the best preventive measures remain basic health practices
“The best thing that we can do is, if you’re sick, if you have an active cough, make sure that you’re staying home and getting better, following up with your doctor, washing your hands, and just making sure that we are staying healthy, getting plenty of sleep, eating a really healthy diet, staying away from people that are actively sick,” Partridge said
Partridge added that anyone with questions or concerns should contact their regular doctor or pediatrician
“I think the most important thing is if you have questions, if you’re worried, please check in with your regular doctor, your pediatrician. They can help guide you about whether or not you need to be tested,” she said
If a Dorchester School District Two student is currently displaying signs of active tuberculosis disease, they are asked to contact their health care provider as soon as possible
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