The health department is investigating after an active tuberculosis case was identified at a Waukegan High School campus, which is prompting enhanced cleaning and precautions.
Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Superintendent Theresa Plascencia sent a letter to part of the Waukegan High School Brookside campus about the situation.
Plascencia said an active tuberculosis case has been identified within the Brookside campus school.
The district said they are working closely with the Lake County Health Department to follow all recommended protocols to “ensure the safety and well-being” of students and staff.
Students and staff identified as close contacts have already been notified with recommended actions.
“To respect their privacy, we will not be sharing any additional details,” Plascencia said.
The high school is undergoing recommended cleaning procedures as a precaution.
School operations continued as usual on Monday with continued cleaning and COVID-era air filtration enhancements in place, Plascencia said.
Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another. The disease germs are emitted into the air when a person with active tuberculosis disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks or sings.
People with active tuberculosis disease are most likely to spread tuberculosis germs to people they spend time with every day.
Active tuberculosis can make a person very ill, Plascencia said in the letter.
“If not treated, it can lead to serious health complications. Only people with active TB disease can spread the germ to others. Those with ‘latent’ TB have the germ in the body but cannot spread it to others. Both active and latent TB are treatable,” Plascencia said.
Anyone who experiences symptoms associated with tuberculosis, such as a persistent cough lasting three weeks or longer, coughing up blood, pain with breathing or coughing, chest pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, fever, chills or night sweats, is asked to contact their healthcare provider or the Lake County Health Department tuberculosis clinic at 847-377-8700.
The school district is hosting a virtual town hall at 6 p.m. on Tuesday with the Lake County Health Department to answer questions students and parents have.