Tuberculosis outbreak recorded at Bay Area private high school as all classes suspended

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Monday 02 February 2026 09:14 EST


Classes at a San Francisco Catholic high school have been suspended after dozens of students and staff were found to have a latent form of tuberculosis. The San Francisco Department of Public Health issued a health advisory regarding the outbreak at Archbishop Riordan High School, where over 50 people have latent tuberculosis and at least three have active cases.

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that attack the lungs, and is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease can only be spread when active. In the latent stage, TB is not contagious, the public health agency noted.

In a letter to the community, Archbishop Riordan High School President Tim Reardon said that in-person classes would be suspended and students would study remotely through February 9, with a hybrid model lasting through February 20, according to SFGate. After that date, only students and staff who have tested negative will be allowed on campus, according to the report.

The first of the three active cases of TB was reported in November. In addition to ongoing testing, health officials are urging anyone with the active for of the disease to stay home. Meanwhile, testing at the school will continue until the outbreak is over.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/tuberculosis-outbreak-san-francisco-high-school-b2912251.html?test_group=lighteradlayout

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Dafuq?

I and I'm sure many DUers recall growing up taking the "Tine Test" to determine if you had been exposed to TB (and would show an immune reaction). Of course nowadays, they have updated tests for exposure. TB is a bacteria and not a virus so no "vaccine".

[LtTx]

1. There is a "vaccine"

The BCG vaccine. It is given in many countries where TB is still an issue. Usually given shortly after birth.

[Hugin]

4. Mixed results with BCG...

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/vaccines/index.html

It’s generally more effective for young children and has the downside of complicating the management of an outbreak due to testing false positives.

It’s the so-called latency of this report that concerns me the most. Is it because whatever this form of tuberculosis this is may be antibiotic resistant?

[markodochartaigh]

2. We had to take a yearly tb test at the hospital where

I worked as a registered nurse for three decades. After I tested positive I had to get chest xrays one time when I developed a cough. There were a few small spots so I ended up at the county health department where they gave me the standard course of pills and capsules. There is a strain of tb resistant to treatment which is of grave concern in many countries.

And there is actually a vaccine, although it isn't used much in the US and isn't especially effective.
If one has had this vaccine they shouldn't get the skin tb test since it can cause a severe skin reaction.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCG_vaccine

[EYESORE 9001]

3. Tetanus?

That’s a bacterium.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Tuberculosis (TB)

You could probably fit a pile of viruses inside that!

[Stargazer99]

5. Looks like the Republicans are well on their way eliminating the not as valuable as they are

[Prairie Gates]

6. So it's latent and not contagious but the whole damn school caught it?

[BumRushDaShow]

9. That's the scary part

I.e., all of those who were testing positive but not having an "active" case, were apparently exposed to it in the past, and may have been "contagious" themselves at some point, and interacted with who knows how many. And if they had symptoms, they might have chalked it off as being the flu.

[twodogsbarking]

8. a.k.a. White Death.

[wolfie001]

10. Tuition $26,000 a year

I'll bet there's a bunch of Opus Dei tRUMPers involved/infested with that school. Figures they'd have a Middle Ages type of outbreak.

*I took about 2 or so Tine tests. We'd have to keep track of our shots. Me? Retired Union Grocery Worker.

[CountAllVotes]

11. T.B.

T.B. is responsible for the deaths of many of my family members.

That is the reason I have so few; they all died of T.B. as late as the 1940s!

& recommend.

[orangecrush]

12. My Dad died of TB in the mid 60s.

[in2herbs]

13. Covid put a ratchet in F45's plan to destroy the country. Will TB and measles put a similar ratchet in

F47's plan to destroy the country during this term?

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Don't forget Polio too