Screening programme reveals no further cases of TB

Staff from the Public Health Agency and the Northern Health Trust carried out TB screening sessions with relevant staff and students on Wednesday (January 20) as “a precautionary measure” after it was confirmed that a pupil at the school was being treated in hospital for the lung infection.

While the school declined to comment on the outcome of the screening programme this week, the Public Health Agency confirmed that its investigation is still ongoing.

Dr Michael Devine, Consultant in Communicable Disease, commented: “There have been no further cases of TB identified at the school and the investigation is still ongoing.”

He added: “I would like to reassure parents and those who attend the school that children with TB are rarely infectious to others and the risk to pupils and staff at the school is low.”

It is understood that the male fourth form pupil who contracted TB is being treated at Antrim Area Hospital.

A spokesperson for the Public Health Agency confirmed that the teenager is “making good progress.”

During 2008, the most recent year for which figures are available, there were 66 cases of TB across Northern Ireland.