Jenks Parent Encourages Prayer For Sick Students

<p>Days after the first confirmed case of tuberculosis, some students in Green Country are coming home from school Thursday with a letter explaining they may have been exposed.</p>

Thursday, November 17th 2016, 5:36 pm

By: Amy Slanchik

Jenks Parent Encourages Prayer For Sick Students

Days after the first confirmed case of tuberculosis, some students in Green Country are coming home from school Thursday with a letter explaining they may have been exposed.

This is the second confirmed case of the deadly infection in ten days; the two students are both out of school and receiving treatment.

One parent in the district said she has a message for others who might be concerned.

Thursday, Stacy Kukal received an email from Jenks Public Schools letting her know a second high school student has tuberculosis.

"I think, now that there have been two, I think that the concern is heightened," Kukal said.

The health department discovered the second case because of the testing offered after the first case.

All students who attended class and rode the bus with the second student are being offered a free TB test from the Tulsa Health Department, but the testing is not mandatory.

The health department said tuberculosis is only transmitted through close, prolonged contact.

Rob Loeber with Jenks Public Schools said, "It's not one of those things where the entire high school needs to be scrubbed down or sanitized, anything like that."

The school district said the risk of transmission is "extremely low," but Kukal said the school should do a better job educating parents.

"I think it would be helpful if we were given some background information on the disease itself," she said.

Kukal said her son encouraged her not to worry.

"My 19-year-old son who graduated from Jenks last year, Zack, said ‘Why don't you look at it from the parents' perspective of the kids who are testing positive - how would you feel if that was your child,’" she said.

So, for now, Kukal is choosing not to spend her time being anxious about her other child in the district.

"It's not something I really do need to worry about. I don't think my child's been exposed; and really, the best I can do is pray for the kids that are sick," she said.

The Tulsa Health Department said parents are taking advantage of the free testing, even though it's not mandatory, and wants to emphasize that testing is not necessary if you didn't get a letter Thursday.