Dangerous Tuberculosis Case Confirmed at a School in Illinois

You rarely see new cases of tuberculosis anymore, but there is a case of this dangerous disease that has reportedly been confirmed at a school in Illinois.

I saw this case of tuberculosis in Illinois reported by CBS News today. They say there is an "active case" with someone that is connected to Waukegan High School. The confirmation came from a statement by Waukegan Community Unit School District 60. They don't say if it's a student, teacher or someone who works at the high school.

How contagious is tuberculosis?

The Centers for Disease Control say tuberculosis is highly contagious. They say it "can get into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours".

This is an especially perilous situation for anyone who has a weakened immune systems as they are likely to develop active tuberculosis if they come in contact with the germs.

The Lake County, Illinois Health Department and Community Health Center has more information on tuberculosis and how to avoid it. There's a reason why tuberculosis is the 2nd most deadly infectious disease in the world.