Little Rock—Dr. Fay Boozman, director, Arkansas Department of Health, met today with education, business, religious and community leaders of Forrest City to discuss the results of the voluntary tuberculosis skin testing in the Forrest City School District undertaken the week of May 8.  

Boozman stated,  "The results of the voluntary testing are what we expected. In the course of one week, we tested 4,297 people, including almost all the students in the Forrest City School District. We expected to find roughly three percent with positive skin tests. We found two percent (86 people) with positive skin tests, including seven cases of TB. Six of the seven cases would have been identified through the Health Department’s ongoing TB investigation. I want to strongly emphasize that none of these people are contagious; they are receiving treatment; and they are no health threat to others."

During this same period, the Health Department continued its evaluation of the students and staff at Forrest City Junior High School, which had been delayed for a variety of reasons (absenteeism, a borderline skin test, pending chest x-rays, etc.).  Chest x-rays revealed that five of the people with positive skin tests had TB disease, making a total of 15 cases at the Junior High.  These people are not contagious; they are receiving treatment; and they are no health threat to others.

A total of 4,964 people were tested at Forrest City Junior High School and during the voluntary testing.  The total number of cases of TB disease is 22. Twenty-one of the twenty-two cases are linked to the initial infectious case. The remaining case is known to have had a positive skin test in the past, meaning that patient was infected many years ago.  The total number of positive skin tests is 117.  Neither children nor adults in the Forrest City School District are at increased risk for acquiring the disease.  The danger of contracting the disease from the infected student has passed.  The Health Department stresses that it is entirely safe for parents to send their children to school.  Boozman said, "We are doing what public health workers are responsible for doing in a situation like this--controlling the outbreak and, with preventive treatment, stopping further cases from developing."

Having a positive TB skin test does not mean that the person has tuberculosis disease. It means that he or she has inhaled the TB germ, and it is present in the body. The development of TB disease can be prevented with treatment. Only about ten per cent of untreated people with positive skin tests eventually develop TB disease.

The treatment for tuberculosis disease is also highly effective.  It is being administered to all of the cases that have been discovered in Forrest City.

The Arkansas Department of Health, with cooperation from Forrest City School District and community leadership, will continue to monitor the situation.  Boozman encouraged community leaders to continue to inform their constituencies that free TB skin testing is always available at the St. Francis County Health Unit (870- 663-1340) if there is still concern.  For more information, visit the Health Department’s Web site at www.healthyarkansas.com.

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