URGENT UPDATE: A third confirmed active case of tuberculosis (TB) has forced Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco to cancel in-person classes this Friday and suspend all on-campus activities next week. The alarming outbreak has also led to the cancellation of several sporting events, impacting students and families.
Officials announced that from February 9-20, the school will transition to a hybrid learning model. Students who test negative for TB will be allowed to return to campus, while teachers will post assignments online for those at home. “It’s kind of crazy because it reminds me a bit of COVID,” stated student Julia O’Neill.
The school leadership is actively collaborating with the San Francisco public health department on contact tracing, aiming to have all affected individuals tested by February 13. In addition to the three active TB cases, authorities have identified 50 cases of latent infection. Freshman Emma O’Neill expressed her support for the school’s decision, saying, “I think it is a really good decision to make.”
Students reported feeling largely safe amid the outbreak. Senior Ashling Greene mentioned, “A tiny bit worried, but I know the school has been keeping everyone informed.” The school’s first TB case was reported back in November, but officials suspect that the holiday break may have contributed to the spread of the virus.
In an alarming note, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, explained the nature of TB. “The problem with TB is it can take a long time to incubate in some people, anywhere from two to 10 weeks,” he said. The delay between testing and the onset of symptoms may have resulted in individuals being falsely negative during previous screenings.
Dr. Chin-Hong highlighted that there are about 100 cases of TB reported annually in San Francisco. He noted that school settings can facilitate the spread of TB more effectively than other environments due to prolonged close contact among students. “It can be transferred even more easily than someone living in a household,” he added.
Public health officials plan to reassess test results every eight weeks until the outbreak is officially declared over. This developing situation is a reminder of the importance of vigilance in public health, especially in communal environments like schools.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds.
