Payne County Residents Tested For Tuberculosis

Associated Press

CUSHING, OK -- Health officials are testing Payne County residents for tuberculosis after a Cushing High School student was diagnosed with the disease.

Associate tuberculosis control officer Dr. Phillip Lindsey at the state Health Department says about 125 people who had contact with the student were asked to have skin tests for the disease.

He says about half of the 125 have been tested and 16 of those have tested positive.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spreads through the air from one person to another. The bacteria can attack any part of the body, including the kidneys, spine and brain.

OSDH information on tuberculosis.

If not treated, the disease can be fatal.