According to the release, the school was notified of the diagnosis yesterday, April 8.(Ben Hill County Schools)

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FITZGERALD, Ga. (WALB) – The Ben Hill County School District announced today, April 8, that a Fitzgerald High School College & Career Academy student has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB).

According to the release, the school was notified of the diagnosis April 7.

The school system worked with the Georgia Department of Public Health and Ben Hill County Health Department on notifying students and staff members who were identified as close contacts to the diagnosed student.

Those individuals were provided with guidance on the next steps to take to reduce the further spread of TB.

The school is reminding students, parents and staff that TB is not spread by surface contact like the flu or the cold.

TB is airborne — it is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks and someone nearby breathes in the germs.

Not everyone who is infected with TB becomes sick, according to the school.

Some develop latent TB infection, which is not contagious and can be treated to prevent active disease. TB is treatable and almost always curable.

Any parents who would like to have their child tested are asked to contact the Ben Hill County Health Department at (229) 426-5288.

The health department is located at 251 Appomattox Road.

Testing is available Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

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