Parents and guardians at Johns Creek High School were notified Wednesday that someone who spent time on campus has tested positive for tuberculosis, prompting a warning from the Fulton County Board of Health that some students and staff may have been exposed. Officials said the county will handle follow-up testing for those identified as close contacts at a nearby health center, and families in that group will receive additional letters with specific screening instructions.
Board of Health Notifies Families
The Fulton County Board of Health sent a letter to all parents and guardians at the school explaining what TB testing will involve, according to WSB-TV. The report notes that neither the school district nor the health board has said whether the person who tested positive is a student or a staff member.
Free Testing At North Fulton Regional Health Center
Students flagged for follow-up screening will be offered free testing and result reading at the North Fulton Regional Health Center in Alpharetta. According to the Fulton County Board of Health, the clinic is located at 3155 Royal Drive, Suite 125, and the North Fulton line is available for appointments and questions.
What Parents Should Know About TB
Tuberculosis spreads through the air when a person with active pulmonary TB coughs, speaks or sings and people nearby breathe in the bacteria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains. A positive TB skin or blood test means a person has been infected at some point, but it does not automatically mean they have active, contagious TB. Follow-up evaluation, often including a chest X-ray and clinical exam, is needed to tell the difference between latent infection and active disease. Public health programs frequently offer preventive treatment to people with latent TB infection to lower the risk of future illness.
How Families Can Follow Up
Families who received an initial letter should watch for a follow-up notice listing screening dates, result-reading times and next steps for students identified as close contacts. For general questions, the Fulton County Board of Health provides a main contact line and clinic numbers. Call (770) 520-7500 for general assistance or the North Fulton clinic at (770) 520-7241 for clinic-specific questions. The CDC offers additional background on how TB spreads, how testing works and what treatment typically involves.
