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Tuberculosis case reported at Ocoee High School

OCOEE, Fla. — A 16-year-old student at Ocoee High School has an active case of tuberculosis, according to the Orange County Health Department.

Health department officials said around 130 student and staff from the school will be tested for TB.

"Precautionary testing just to make sure that nobody else has picked it up," Dain Weister of the Florida Department of Health said.

The investigation was started following the hospitalization and release of a student with TB according to health department officials.

"The school district and our health department came together quickly to respond to this case," said Dr. Kevin M. Sherin, director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County in a press release. "The health and safety of the students and staff is our top priority and our work with local school officials is an important part of the public health process."

TB is spread from person to person through close contact through the air and requires prolonged exposure to the same indoor air with the infected person, according to health department officials.

Officials said TB is easily cured through medical treatment.

The families of students at Ocoee High School are being notified of the case of TB, according to health department officials.

A big advantage for the school is that the sick boy hasn't been there since Nov 1.

Officials don't know how he caught it.

Parents said they were worried.

"Yes, it does concern me … because that's my grandbaby and I'm raising him and I don't want nothing to happen to him," said one grandparent.

Another parent said she hopes no one else has it.