Pupil TB case confirmed at school

A case of TB has been confirmed at Galashiels Academy

Screening is being offered at a school in the Scottish Borders after the confirmation of a case of tuberculosis.

NHS Borders said it was carrying out checks at Galashiels Academy after a pupil contracted the disease.

A spokesman for the health authority stressed that it was "extremely unlikely" anybody else at the school would have the infection.

He said that the screening procedures were a "necessary but purely precautionary measure".

NHS Borders said the patient, whose family do not want her to be identified, was responding well to treatment.

No other cases connected to the school have been detected.

It is a difficult infection to pass on to other people and it would therefore be extremely unlikely to find anyone else with active TB infection in the school population Dr Tim Patterson NHS Borders

NHS Borders health protection team has organised TB screening for all close family contacts and it is also being offered at the school.

Anyone to be screened will be offered a Mantoux skin test which detects tuberculosis followed by the BCG vaccination two days later if required.

Public health consultant Dr Tim Patterson said that TB was a "relatively uncommon but treatable condition".

"It is a difficult infection to pass on to other people and it would therefore be extremely unlikely to find anyone else with active TB infection in the school population," he said.

"All relevant contacts have been identified.

"The screening is a necessary but purely precautionary measure."

A helpline has been set up on 08000 858531 for anyone concerned about the incident.

A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council added: "We have been and will continue to work closely with NHS Borders' health protection team to support the school.

"The NHS team has emphasised to staff and pupils that there is no real cause for concern as TB is not highly contagious but anyone who is worried should phone the helpline number."

Prolonged contact

Tuberculosis is a slowly developing bacterial infection that is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

It most commonly affects the lungs but can affect almost any part of the body.

It can be spread when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks and another person breathes in the bacteria.

However, prolonged contact is usually needed to become infected.

A combination of antibiotics successfully treats the infection in the majority of cases.