In a follow-up to the tuberculosis situation at Charlotte Central School in Vermont, which began in January of this year, state health officials are reporting three more students at Charlotte Central School had positive skin tests evaluated by Health Department nurses during the final round of screening clinics held March 30 through April 3.
None of the 31 adults or children (12 adults, 19 children) tested positive at the Freedom Rains day care in Colchester at clinics on March 17 and 19.
A total of 19 children and two adults have tested positive out of 349 students and 84 adults who have been tested and evaluated at Charlotte Central School.
The Health Department is working with parents and the school to arrange testing for approximately 30 remaining students and adults who have not yet been tested.
It is perfectly safe for children and adults with positive skin test results to be at the school, and for others to be around them, because they are not sick with TB and cannot spread the bacteria.
A positive skin test result does NOT mean that a person is sick with TB disease (active TB), or that they can pass the bacteria on to anyone else. A positive skin test result means that the person has been exposed to TB, and has the bacteria in his or her body.
There are no active cases of TB at the school and there is no ongoing risk.The Health Department set up TB testing clinics after an employee was diagnosed with active TB disease.
The person who has active TB is not at the school, and is being treated. This person will be able to return to school after being cleared by medical professionals and the Health Department as no longer being sick with TB, and no longer able to spread the bacteria.
