Tuberculosis found in Rotterdam students; investigation ongoing

The GGD (public health service) discovered a non-contagious form of tuberculosis (TB) ina a former student of the Rotterdam Academy which corresponds with the TB bacterium found in another student of the same academy early in 2014, Hogeschool Rotterdam announced on their website. Tuberculosis is a disease that usually infects the lungs and comes in two forms. In the first form, infectious tuberculosis, the bacteria can be transmitted through coughing and sneezing. The second form can not be transmitted and is not contagious. The disease can be treated with medication. After finding TB in the student in 2014, the GGD started a contact investigation among people who had close contact with the student. The student's classmates and teacher's were examined and based on the outcome the GGD decided not to expand the investigation. Now that TB was found in a former student form another class, the GGD will expand the contact investigation to all students and staff who were present at the Rotterdam Academy between September 1st 2013 and January 1st 2014. This is to ensure that no more people have been infected. The examinations will take place on March 23rd and 24th and the results are expected early in April. According to the GGD, the Rotterdam Academy on Peter de Hoochweg is safe for visitors. The GGD also discovered a contagious form of TB in a student of the location Kralingse Zoom. The student is currently being treated in isolation and can't infect anyone else. A contact investigation was also started around this student. The student's family, classmates and teachers are being examined today and results are expected in early April. This case of TB is not related to the two students from Peter de Hoochweg.