Health emergency after TB diagnosis

A public health emergency is under way after a student was diagnosed with drug-resistant TB, an extremely aggressive form of the disease which has mutated to effectively outgun existing treatments.

The Irish Examiner understands the case involves a 16-year-old in Galway who was diagnosed with the condition last week. The teenager, who cannot be identified due to age, was brought to hospital last Thursday. The student’s classmates, their families, and teachers at his school will be told they need to be screened for the extremely virulent condition by official letters today.

In a statement, the HSE West confirmed a student was being treated for a form of TB, but declined to clarify whether it was a drug-resistant strain due to patient confidentiality. Separate sources have confirmed this is the case.

The spokesperson said the individual was diagnosed last week and is currently being treated in isolation at an unnamed hospital, both for the child and other peoples’ protection. She added that anyone who is at risk of infection or had any contact with the teenager will be told they must be screened later today, with pupils at the school due to be informed this afternoon.

While these individuals may not be showing signs of the illness, they must still be examined, as TB symptoms can take time to develop.

The spokesperson added: “The risk of transmission of disease is considered to be low. In line with best medical practice, the Department of Public Health is offering screening for staff and students at the school who had close contact with the person.

“The Department of Public Health is working with the school to make arrangements for screening those in close contact. This will take place on Tuesday.”

TB is a relatively common condition in Ireland, with 427 cases of all strains identified in 2010, the latest full-year figures available, down from roughly 7,000 a year when it was the scourge of the country during the 1950s.

A number of high-profile cases of both forms of TB have occurred in recent years, including the Crab Lane primary school crisis in Cork City in autumn 2010. The case, at Scoil Isaf Naomha in Ballintemple, led to 47 children and staff being diagnosed with various stages of TB after 200 were checked.

Dr Margaret O’Sullivan, chairwoman of the outbreak control team, at the time said there was an “extraordinarily high rate of attack”.

At least 30 prison officers and six prisoners contracted latent TB in Cloverhill, west Dublin, last Autumn.

A South African woman believed to have contracted TB was also held in necessary isolation at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork City between late 2008 and Nov 2010. The woman, who had 24-hour security for her own and other peoples’ protection, refused to undergo testing. She passed away in Nov 2010.

A HSE West TB hotline will be set up tomorrow morning once those who are most at risk of further infection have been told.