SACRAMENTO-

Testing of staff and students at a Sacramento high school has resulted in more than 100 people diagnosed with a form of tuberculosis.

A student at Grant Union High School tested positive for active TB in February, and has since been medically cleared to return to school. Initially, students and staff who had direct contact with the student were tested. Of those nearly 200, 47 tested positive for a latent form of the infection and they received treatment.

Because that percentage was so high, Sacramento County health officials tested students and teachers who used classrooms that shared a ventilation system with the infected student’s classes.

An additional 260 students and teachers were tested last week, and 64 had positive skin tests, however further testing showed they also had a latent form of TB.

The 111 people who were diagnosed with a latent form of TB are not infectious and do not exhibit symptoms, but the health department stresses it is important to provide preventative treatment to stop the progression to become active TB.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that can spread through the air when there is repeated, prolonged, or close exposure to the infected individual.

Health officials are offering treatment for all 111 people who tested positive for TB, consisting of a 12-week medicinal regimen.