The Department of Health is investigating almost 200 possible exposures to the virus at Canutillo High School.

The El Paso Department of Health is testing about 190 students, faculty and staff for the tuberculosis virus. It appears that someone at Canutillo High School has the virus and the Department of Health is checking all those who had contact with them. According to the El Paso Herald-Post:

Public health officials will be sending letters to parents of those children who may have had close contact with someone with active TB. As a precaution, the Department of Public Health is recommending that these individuals be screened for TB through a blood draw test.

Parents and family members who get one of these letters can call (915) 212 - 6609 with questions.

Tuberculosis (also known as "TB") is a disease caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB mainly infects the lungs, although it can also affect other organs.

When someone with untreated TB coughs or sneezes, the air is filled with droplets containing the bacteria. Inhaling these infected droplets is the usual way a person gets TB. - kidshealth.org

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