Letter About Possible TB Exposure At Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy

January 11, 2016

Dear Students, Faculty and Families:

We recently learned that some of the students and faculty at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy were potentially exposed to a person with tuberculosis (TB) during the fall semester.  There is not any ongoing risk for TB exposure at the school known at this time. Denver Public Health is contacting people who were potentially exposed to test them for TB. If you were not contacted by Denver Public Health on January 11, you were likely not exposed and do not need to be tested.

TB is a disease caused by germs spread through the air from one person to another. Getting TB typically requires many hours of contact with a person who is sick from TB. It cannot be spread by touching door knobs, tables, utensils or other surfaces where a patient with TB has been. Some important things for you to know:

• Most people who are exposed to TB do not get infected.

• People who are infected generally do not get sick until months or even years later.

• People who are infected cannot give TB to others unless they are sick with symptoms such as cough, fever, or night sweats.
• A person who is infected but is not sick can receive treatment to prevent them from getting sick and spreading TB to family and friends in the future.

KCAA, Denver Public Schools, the Denver Metro TB Program and Denver Public Health will be working closely to test the people who were exposed.   If anyone is found to have TB infection, they will undergo further evaluation and be offered treatment to prevent them from getting sick. At this time, only people directly exposed need to be tested.

Denver Public Health will be offering a Town Hall meeting at KCAA to answer questions about tuberculosis. This meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Kunsmiller auditorium on Wednesday, January 13.

Again, we do not believe there is any ongoing risk of TB exposure at the school, and students are safe to attend school and activities as usual.

If you have any additional questions, visit DenverHealth.org/TBClinic, or call your primary care provider.

Your and your family's health is a priority. Thank you for working with us during this time.

Sincerely,

Robert Belknap, MD

Medical Director,  Denver Metro TB Clinic

Peter Castillo
Principal, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy