WASHINGTON — A Prince George’s County Public Schools official has
confirmed
someone at Potomac High School in Oxon Hill has been diagnosed with
tuberculosis.
The patient is not being identified and it’s not known whether he or she is a
student.
A letter went home to parents after the school system was alerted someone in
the school had tested positive for TB last week.
Lynn McCawley of PGCPS says at this point, no other cases have been
identified.
The school district health department is working with the county health
department on the case.
“This individual sought care with their health care provider and was
determined to have TB after they were tested,” said Angela Wakhweya, chief
officer of health policy at Prince Georges County Public Schools.
Tuberculosis is not endemic to the U.S. Following protocol, the county
health department took over the investigation to trace anyone who had direct
contact with the patient. Those who had been in contact, Wakhweya said, have
been contacted.
Wakhweya says TB is not highly contagious and cannot be spread through contact
with objects, kissing or sharing food.
WTOP’s Megan Cloherty contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
