BOERNE, Texas – A person has been diagnosed with tuberculosis at Boerne Middle School.

The Texas Department of Health Services is working with Boerne ISD and Boerne Middle School to ensure the health of students, staff, teachers, and the surrounding community.

Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that is treatable with antibiotics. The disease affects the lungs and is preventable and curable with treatment. While it is airborne, tuberculosis can spread between people in close spaces over a long period of time, according to TDSHS.

Officials did not say if the person was a student or staff member at the school. The person has apparently been absent from campus since earlier this month, the district said. 

Every student who may have been exposed to tuberculosis will be contacted by TDSHS. Free blood tests will be provided on March 21. 

A community meeting is being held at Boerne Middle School on Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the library for Spanish speakers and the cafeteria for English speakers.

Boerne ISD statement:

On Tuesday, February 20 Boerne ISD administrators were informed of an individual at our Boerne Middle School South campus testing positive for tuberculosis (TB). The individual has not been on the campus since the beginning of February and there have been no other cases reported. Due to privacy laws we are unable to say anything more about this particular case.

We want our parents, students and employees to know we are following every recommendation from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS). That includes holding multiple community meetings to provide the most up-to-date information on the situation. Those dates are provided below.

The TDSHS is closely monitoring our campus, but is not recommending any interruption to normal district business at this time. 

For those wanting more information on TB, the Texas Department of Health Services can be reached at (210) 949-2000.

Community Meeting #1: Boerne Middle School South campus, Thursday, February 22. Session 1 at 5pm and Session 2 at 7pm (Spanish sessions in Library/ English sessions in Cafeteria)

Community Meeting #2: Boerne Middle School South campus, Tuesday, February 27. Session 1 at 5pm and Session 2 at 7pm (Spanish sessions in Library/ English sessions in Cafeteria)

Spectrum News will continue to monitor this situation/add updates as they become available.