200+ students to be tested for tuberculosis after teen tests positive

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A high school student is being treated for tuberculosis in Gwinnett County.

According to the Gwinnett County School District, parents were notified of the child's diagnosis Friday.

The Gwinnett County Health Department notified the school district that a Discovery High School student has been diagnosed with and is currently being treated for tuberculosis.

"Our school is helping the Gwinnett County Health Department as they determine which students and faculty may have been in close and continuous contact with this student and therefore possibly exposed to tuberculosis. These identified individuals will need to have a TB skin test. This test, administered by health officials, will be done free-of-charge at the school," the district said.

The Gwinnett County Health Department emphasized that tuberculosis is hard to spread to others. But other students will be tested Wednesday.

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Last week, two cases of tuberculosis were confirmed in Floyd County.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach learned 266 students will need to get tested. That is less than 10 percent of the faculty and staff at the school.

Gehlbach spoke to one parent who said his son was not one of those at risk.

"Of course everyone’s concerned, especially as a parent,” Nick Rehman said.

The health department says they'll be back to check for test results on Friday. Anyone who shows a reaction would require additional blood tests at the health department.

Cox Media Group