A case of tuberculosis (TB) has been confirmed at D.H. Conley High School in Greenville, North Carolina, according to the Pitt County Health Department. Health officials received notification of the case on Friday, November 8, 2024.
School Leaders and Health Officials Reassure Families
In response to the confirmed TB case, D.H. Conley High School Principal T.J. Worrell, along with Pitt County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve M. Lassiter, Jr., and Pitt County Health Director Wes Gray, issued a letter to all parents and guardians. The letter outlined the steps being taken to investigate the case, provide testing, and mitigate any risks associated with the situation.
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No Immediate Public Health Risk Identified
In a public release, the Pitt County Health Department confirmed that there is currently no public health risk, emphasizing that this case is being carefully managed.
“We are working to inform staff and parents/guardians to arrange testing and ensure that any potential exposures are identified,” stated Gray.
He also highlighted the importance of case investigations, which have played a key role in the state’s declining TB rates over the past four decades.
Declining TB Cases in North Carolina
Tuberculosis has been steadily decreasing in North Carolina due to vigilant public health efforts and regular case investigations. In 1980, the state saw over 1,000 cases of TB. However, due to ongoing health initiatives, there were only 163 cases reported in the most recent year.
What Parents Should Know About TB Prevention and Next Steps
TB is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs and can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms of TB may include persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Health officials encourage parents to be vigilant, though they emphasize that routine case investigations and testing protocols are highly effective at preventing further spread.
The Pitt County Health Department assures the community that they are proactively working with D.H. Conley High School to conduct testing, monitor health statuses, and provide necessary resources to families.
