School TB scare

By Melissa Meehan and Lia Bichel
DANDENONG High School’s principal has downplayed fears of a Tuberculosis (TB) outbreak at the school.
Principal Martin Culkin said the school was made aware that one of its students, an irregular attendee, was admitted to hospital with TB.
“The school is working with the guidance of the Department of Human Services with a clear process for schools,” Mr Culkin said.
He said, in accordance with DHS policies both staff and students were notified of the situation by mail.
“Students who could have been affected, who have been in close proximity of the student have been identified and screened,” he said.
“From what I have been told TB is a low infectivity disease and the likelihood of catching it is low.”
A concerned parent contacted the Star on Wednesday.
While she did not want to be named she said she was both concerned and distraught to receive a letter on Monday. The letter said that there was a case of TB in the Middle School Cleeland Campus, Dandenong.
She said she had spoken to both people at the school and DHS who had confirmed that a Year 9 student at the school had been admitted into hospital with TB.
“I’m quite distraught, I am worried that other kids have been put at risk,” she said. “All students share the same facilities like toilets and drinking taps.”
Spokesperson for DHS, Bram Alexander said the letter was in line with national and international best practise with public health.
“We do follow up screening of people who have come into contact with the person who is ill,” Mr Alexander said. “That is the standard response.”
He said the letter was “entirely precautionary”. “I don’t know that it’s highly contagious,” he said. “Screening needs to be done after a period of time lapse, if done too early and someone is infected it will not show up.”
He said that while the situation might appeal unusual he understood why people were concerned.
“We are doing our best to minimise spread to other people,” he said. “We have expertise in this area.”