LEYTON: two students receiving treatment for TB

2:00pm Thursday 12th May 2011

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)

TWO STUDENTS at a Leyton school have been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB).

The first confirmed case at Lammas School in Seymour Road, Leyton, was at the end of March, and the second in April.

According to the Health Protection Agency (HPA), which deals with infectious diseases, the cases are not thought to be linked.

The two pupils concerned, both in Year 10, are undergoing a six-month treatment programme, but their conditions are no longer contagious.

Letters were sent out to Year 10 students informing them and their parents after the first case and then to the whole school following the second diagnosis.

The agency has also identified pupils and staff who had the greatest contact with the patients and is offering them screening for TB, as a precautionary measure.

Dr Rebecca Cordery, a consultant from the HPA’s North East & North Central London Health Protection Unit, said: “Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that typically requires close, prolonged and frequent contact before transmission occurs.

“Because of this, the greatest risk of it spreading is to people who live in the same household as a person with the infectious form of the disease.

“The risk to other contacts, including those in a school setting, is low.”