BULLHEAD CITY (KTNV) — More than 400 people were exposed to tuberculosis after a person infected with the illness visited Diamondback Elementary School in Bullhead City.
According to the Mohave County Department of Public Health, they were notified about the incident on Tuesday, Aug. 1 and immediately launched an investigation.
Health officials released more information about the exposures on August 8.
"It is important to note that the individual who tested positive has not been on or near any BCSD campus this school year, which began July 31," officials noted in an updated news release.
The reason for the delay in notifying people of the exposure, health officials explained, was that the person did not receive a formal tuberculosis diagnosis until August 1. Their medical provider immediately notified the Mohave County Department of Public Health, which began its notification and response process, officials said.
"The individual who tested positive is not currently in or at a BCSD school, nor have they been this school year," health officials added in the updated news release.
Tuberculosis is a serious but treatable disease that primarily affects the lungs. It is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
County health officials said they're setting up a TB skin test clinic for students, staff, and their families on Aug. 11.
Tuberculosis testing will be available at Diamondback Elementary School on Friday Aug. 11 — only for students and employees who were potentially exposed to TB from March through June of the 2022-23 school year. Testing will be scheduled as follows, according to the health department:
- 9 a.m.: Current fifth-graders at Bullhead City Middle School
- 10 a.m.: Current fourth-graders at Diamondback Elementary School
- 11 a.m. Current third-graders at Diamondback Elementary School
- 12 p.m.: Diamondback, Boulder City School District, Chartwells and other employees
- 1 p.m.: Current second-graders at Diamondback Elementary School
- 2 p.m. Current first-graders at Diamondback Elementary School
- 3 p.m.: Those unable to be tested during previous scheduled time blocks
For more information, county health officials said you can call 928-753-8665 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call a 24-hour pre-recorded informational line at 928-718-4932. You can also reach a public health nurse at askanurse@mohave.gov.
