Rainier Beach High School confirms active tuberculosis case, 130 people possibly exposed
KOMO • • health
Key Points:
- Public Health – Seattle & King County confirmed an active tuberculosis (TB) case linked to Rainier Beach High School and is recommending TB evaluations for about 130 people with significant indoor exposure to the infected individual.
- The school will notify those requiring evaluation, which includes a medical risk assessment and TB testing, while all students, staff, and families will be informed regardless of exposure level.
- The person with active TB is receiving treatment and is no longer contagious; TB is less easily spread than illnesses like COVID-19 and typically requires prolonged indoor exposure.
- Public Health distinguishes between active TB disease, which is contagious and treatable over six to nine months, and latent TB infection, which is not contagious but can develop into active TB later
