Child with confirmed tuberculosis infection

Issued by NHS Highland

The Health Protection Team at NHS Highland is working with The Highland Council Education Culture and Sport Service following the recent confirmation of a case of Tuberculosis (TB) in a child who is a primary 1 pupil at South Lodge Primary School in Invergordon.

The affected child did not catch the infection at school and remains well. 

A letter providing further information has been given to all parents and staff and NHS Highland is offering TB screening to the other pupils and staff in primary 1. This will be carried out during the week beginning May 30.  

For TB to spread, it requires the affected person to be infectious and also to have had prolonged, close contact with others. Such contact is usually only found in the home.  

Although it is unlikely there has been any spread of infection in the school setting, as a precautionary measure, NHS Highland has decided to offer those who have had the most prolonged close contact a screening skin test for TB called a Mantoux test.

NHS Highland Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Dr Ken Oates, said: “We realise some parents will be anxious about this, but would seek to reassure everyone that the measures we are taking are precautionary.  

“In the unlikely event that another child is found to have TB infection, then effective antibiotic treatment is available. 

“I would like to thank Glenn Paton, the head teacher, and his staff for their full cooperation and the help they have given us in dealing with this matter.” 

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