by Dr. Andrew Davies
andrewd@isb.ac.th
Dear ISB Community,
Confirmed TB case at ISB – Important Health Communication
In the middle of this week we learned that an ES Instructional Assistant (IA), who works with Kindergarten and Grade 1 classes, was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). The IA has been out of school for over a month because of a bereavement in her family and illness and has begun the treatment regimen for TB.
This message is intended to give you information about the disease, how we are responding as a school, and to address concerns you may have about risks to health.
As of today, the medical experts are awaiting the necessary test results to determine if this staff member was capable of transmitting TB to others.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), not everyone infected with TB becomes ill or is contagious. TB disease and infection can be cured with treatment. If you would like more information on tuberculosis, please see the Tuberculosis Fact Sheet from the CDC copied below.
We are continuing to gather further details about this particular case and are consulting with with various medical experts in both Thailand and overseas. We will communicate again as soon as possible with further information about appropriate next steps. The experts have told us that this response may range from no additional follow up needed to screening of some staff and students who had regular contact with this staff member. In that event, ISB will make arrangements to have this available on campus for those who may require it.
For those with questions or concerns, we have arranged for a medical expert at Bumrungrad Hospital who specializes in infectious diseases to be available to answer questions at a meeting on Tuesday morning (March 24) at 8:00 am in the ESMPR.
We are aware that this news may be worrying.Should you have any questions or concerns about this matter, please contact ES Principal, Kelly Armitage, ES Vice-Principal Diana Drummond the ISB Nurse Consultant Sonja Roback, or your healthcare provider.
We wish our valued employee a swift recovery and looking forward to her returning to the ISB family in the not too distant future.
Dr. Andrew Davies
Head of School
andrewd@isb.ac.th
081 851 6277
Tuberculosis Fact Sheet from the CDC
What is TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs spread from person to person through the air. It usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine.
What are the symptoms of TB?
Symptoms include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.
How is TB spread?
TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection.
What is the difference between latent TB infection and TB disease?
People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their bodies, but they are not sick because the germs are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and they cannot spread the germs to others. However, they may develop TB disease in the future. They are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB disease.
People with TB disease are sick from TB germs that are active, meaning that they are multiplying and destroying tissue in their body. They usually have symptoms of TB disease. People with TB disease of the lungs or throat are capable of spreading germs to others. They are prescribed drugs that can treat TB disease.
What should I do if I have spent time with someone with latent TB infection?
A person with latent TB infection cannot spread germs to other people. You do not need to be tested if you have spent time with someone with latent TB infection. However, if you have spent time with someone with TB disease or someone with symptoms of TB, you should be tested.
What should I do if I have been exposed to someone with TB disease?
People with TB disease are most likely to spread the germs to people they spend time with every day, such as family members or coworkers. If you have been around someone who has TB disease, you should go to your doctor or your local health department for tests.
Find more information from the CDC about Tuberculosis here. (https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm)