AURORA, Colo. — All students and staff who were at Aurora Hills Middle School during the 2018 fall semester will need to get tested for tuberculosis.
In January, health authorities launched an investigation into a possible tuberculosis exposure at the school.
Denver Public Health continued to work with Tri-County Health Department, Aurora Public Schools (APS) and Aurora Hills Middle School to test anybody who was potentially exposed to TB during the fall semester.
The tests from January didn’t show that any students got infected with TB, however repeat testing last week of the same people showed that some had gotten infected, but were not sick, according to a joint press release from Denver Public Health, Tri-County Health Department and APS. Those who have the infection but are not sick cannot give TB to other people. Those individuals are getting treatment to protect them from getting sick in the future.
Testing has been expanded to include all students and staff who were at Aurora Hills Middle School during the fall semester. Testing will begin on March 4.
So far, Denver Public Health has not found anybody else who is sick from TB, so there isn’t a risk for exposure at the school, according to the press release.
TB is a disease caused by germs spread between people through the air. Most people who are exposed do not get infected. Typical symptoms include a chronic cough, fever or night sweats that are persistent for several weeks and usually getting worse. For more information on TB, visit Denver Public Health’s website.
