Health Dept. Expands Screening For Tuberculosis At Catonsville High

CATONSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- Eleven more people are being asked to get screened for tuberculosis within a Baltimore County high school community.

The county's health department, working with the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the county schools, has expanded its investigation of TB within the Catonsville High School community.

"While it is very difficult to contract TB through typical school interactions, the Baltimore County Department of Health has mailed letters to this small group of potential contacts strongly recommending that they receive a screening test," the county's health department said in a statement.

A case of TB was confirmed within the school's community in April.

Tuberculosis is caused by a bacteria normally in the lungs. It can spread from person to person through the air, but people affected are in close contact with those infected for an extended amount of time.

Symptoms are:

• A bad cough that lasts longer than two weeks
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
• Weakness or tiredness, weight loss, chills, fever, and night sweats.

For more information about this ongoing contact investigation, call the Department of Health at 410-887-2711.