A “member of the Andover High School community” was recently diagnosed with tuberculosis, according to a note sent to parents Wednesday.
“Transmission of TB in schools is relatively uncommon since long periods of direct, close contact to an infectious person usually is required for transmission to occur,” Andover Public Schools Nursing Director Rita Casper said in the note. “[The Massachusetts Department of Public Health], Andover’s Health Division, and school nursing staff are working together to determine recommendations for screening members of our community for TB and will follow up directly with individual students and staff who might have been exposed to offer testing.”
AHS families can attend virtual information sessions with DPH, Andover Health and APS nursing on Thursday at 6 p.m. or Monday at 10 a.m. Registration is required.
Tuberculosis can be fatal without treatment. Treatment regimens for TB infections include medications used alone or in combination. Treatments regimens can last for up to nine months.
Tuberculosis spreads through inhaled germs, according to the DPH tuberculosis fact sheet. Symptoms of tuberculosis include a cough that lasts longer than three weeks, unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats, coughing up blood, persistent fatigue or malaise, and chest pain.
Andover Public Schools Nursing Director Rita Casper note to AHS families:
Dear Andover High School families:
A member of the Andover High School community has recently been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). The Andover Health Division and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) are experienced in responding to this type of illness and have well-established protocols for evaluating TB.
Transmission of TB in schools is relatively uncommon since long periods of direct, close contact to an infectious person usually is required for transmission to occur. Symptoms include a cough that lasts longer than three weeks, unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), persistent fatigue/malaise, and chest pain.
MDPH, Andover’s Health Division, and school nursing staff are working together to determine recommendations for screening members of our community for TB and will follow up directly with individual students and staff who might have been exposed to offer testing.
For information on Tuberculosis, we encourage you to review the Massachusetts Department of Public Health or Centers for Disease Control (CDC) TB fact sheets at the links below.
Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/tuberculosis
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/…/publica…/factsheets/default.htm…
AHS families will also have the opportunity to receive further information from MDPH, Andover Health Division, and APS Nursing staff at two virtual TB information sessions on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 6 p.m. or Monday, March 6, 2023 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, March 2nd at 6 p.m.:
Register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/…/tJIsdeipqzovG91X4-1XToywW0nRHgpgJnWe
Registration is required for participation and can be done at any time.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the meeting.
Or Monday, March 6th at 10 a.m.:
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/…/tJwvcu-hqzIiGtJ4BMUPBeK7O64fUWpZkG1w
Registration is required for participation and can be done at any time.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the meeting.
Interpreter services are available for families, if needed. If you have additional questions, please contact:
Rita Casper, MBA RN NCSN
Director of Nursing, Andover Public Schools
rita.casper@andoverma.us
978-247-7055