Tuberculosis Outbreak Investigation at A Senior High School in Central Taiwan, 2017

Tuberculosis Outbreak Investigation at A Senior High School in Central Taiwan, 2017

Two tuberculosis (TB)students at the same senior high school in central Taiwan were confirmed in April and July 2017, respectively (case 1 and case 2). One contact was also diagnosed as TB case later (case 3). In contacts investigation of case 1 and case 2, the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) positive rates were 43.7% and 4.9%, respectively.Except one refused treatment, all otherIGRA positive contacts received latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment. A further investigation found that case 2 was epidemiologicallyrelated to case 1, but case 2 was notdefined as acontact of case 1initially. We recommended that the TB outbreak investigation in school should be done from more aspects. Case 1 and case 2 were highly contagious when being diagnosed, indicating that they might have delayed medical treatment and diagnosis. Thus we recommended that schoolsregularly carry out TB prevention and education activities. Schoolsshould also conduct ventilation assessment regularly to reduce the risk of TB transmissionamongteachers and students. We also recommended strengthening education and awareness of TB amongclinic doctors.