‘Extraordinarily high’ attack rate in TB outbreak

A TB outbreak at a Cork primary school where 40 people have been infected has exhibited “an extraordinarily high rate of attack” and confounded public health officials who have been unable to identify the source.

In light of the seriousness of the outbreak, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has taken the unusual step of offering a second round of screening of close to 200 pupils who attend Scoil Iósaf Naofa, at Crab Lane, Ballintemple, in the suburbs of Cork city.

This is to cater for the possibility that children who tested negative for TB in the initial round of screening may test positive in a subsequent Mantoux (skin) test.