Dumfries and Galloway tuberculosis case confirmed

A PUPIL at a Scottish school has being diagnosed as having tuberculosis.

Derek Cox, director of public health at NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said: “A single isolated case of tuberculosis (TB) has been identified in a school child. We are dealing with this case in a routine way and in accordance with national guidelines.

“Although TB can sometimes be serious for those affected, it is usually easily treated with certain antibiotics, and most people make a full recovery.”

He said screening was being offered to people most at risk of infection.

TB is spread by inhaling droplets of saliva from an infected person. It affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body, including bones, skin and nervous system.

Up to 500 cases of TB are diagnosed in Scotland each year, with fewer than ten in Dumfries and Galloway.