The Cumberland County Department of Public Health is investigating after someone at Seventy-First High School tested positive for tuberculosis, potentially exposing more than 250 other people to the disease.
County health officials said they were notified about a confirmed case of tuberculosis on Sept. 11 and are working with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Cumberland County Schools to determine who else may have been exposed.
Officials said they have identified 260 people so far who may have had close contact with the person who was infected.
County health officials said they are working to provide screening information to anyone who may have been in close contact with the person.
“All people who have had close contact with the individual have been contacted by a public health nurse from the County Health Department or Cumberland County Schools,” the health department said.
Health officials said active tuberculosis most often affects people’s lungs. People
who are sick with TB often have at least one of the following symptoms:
Cough lasting more than three weeksCoughing up bloodFeverProfuse sweating at night, often soaking bed sheetsUnintentional weight lossPoor appetite Chest pain or discomfortDifficulty breathing
This story is developing and will be updated as more information is available.