Officials of HSE West have moved to assure the public that a single case of TB identified in a 16-year-old secondary school student in Galway should not carry a high risk of contagion and that screening was being carried out on any potential risk parties.
The issue was raised by HSE West chairman Cllr Padraig Conneely, who said that he had been receiving phonecalls regarding the single case with people asking details and the implications for families with children in school.
“Can you reassure us where we are without identifying the school or the child that we know is in Galway?” the chairman asked.
Dr Patrick O Sullivan, HSE West director of public health, confirmed there was a case of TB identified in a school in Galway.
“However, I would correct the word ‘outbreak’; this is one case, we are not aware of any other. The director of public health is out in the school today screening the immediate contacts of that case. In general TB is less contagious in children than from adults so it is less likely it will have spread to other children or staff in that school. In the immediate context there will be screening of those in the school and of the immediate family contacts to see are there any other cases.
“The Department will be working to ensure there are no other cases and that the further spread of this disease is limited or stopped completely. There has been no hotline established because the Department feels they have identified everyone associated with this case and in contact with this child. Anyone with concerns should contact their own doctor in the first instance.
“We should be assuring people who have been in contact with this child they have or will be contacted, and will be offered screening so there isn’t concern for the general population as the risks aren’t so great in this particular case.”
He added: “TB in young children is relatively rare. In 2010 there were just over 427 cases in the whole country, 21 were in the western health board region here and the number in young children would have been very small. It is something that would be identified by screening. The children would be unwell and a doctor would identify it. We would not expect lots of other cases in the region.”
He added that TB once carried a stigma. “But it is generally well managed now once diagnosed and a child can be well treated. It is up to us to point out as public employes that this isn’t the disease of the past with some stigma and is now very well managed.”
Mayo Fine Gael councillor Seamus Weir said he wished to express his sympathy to the family involved. “Nobody wants anything like that to happen, it is not totally unusual. Obviously if you’re mixing with animals such things can happen.”
HSE West chair, Cllr Padraig Conneely, said: “The child, the family, the school will be in the spotlight from this and I would therefore also extend my sympathy and hope for full recovery.
“I am sure it will be resolved fully with the help of the public health services.”
