Children and staff at a North Park preschool may have been exposed to tuberculosis, health officials said Thursday.
A student at Edison Elementary Preschool tested positive for the disease, and may have exposed others between Jan. 24 and Feb. 9, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
"County staff will be conducting TB testing at the preschool on Feb. 28," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. "Testing will allow us to identify early infection in individuals before they become ill with TB. Once diagnosed, TB can be treated and cured with medication."
HHSA, the school and San Diego Unified School District are notifying parents about the possible exposure.
Most people exposed to TB do not develop the disease, but those who do suffer from persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss, according to the HHSA. Prolonged close contact with an infected person isnecessary for the illness to spread.
This is the 24th case of TB diagnosed this year in San Diego. There were 222 cases reported in the county last year.
