Le Figaro Bordeaux
The BCG vaccine, which protects children against tuberculosis, has no longer been compulsory for admission to a community since 2007. And the disease, which is characterized by a serious infection of the lungs, reappears sporadically in France.
In Libourne, in Gironde, a nursery school teacher was diagnosed as carrying this disease.
Parents learned of this by receiving an information letter from the Gironde department on January 30.
“To date, there is no longer any risk of contagiousness
,” the department specifies in its letter.
Some students from the Garderose school in Libourne who were in contact with this teacher could nevertheless have been infected by the Koch bacillus bacteria which is spread by air.
In order to prevent the risk of contamination, they will be screened in accordance with the recommendations of the High Council of Public Health.
An operation consisting in particular of carrying out a chest x-ray but which
“must not be carried out urgently to be effective”
.
Also read: BCG vaccine, effective well beyond tuberculosis?
Worrying symptoms
Screening is coordinated by the Bordeaux anti-tuberculosis center.
An information meeting for parents is organized at the Garderose nursery school in Libourne, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
The prescriptions necessary for medical examinations will be distributed on this occasion.
In the meantime, parents are urged to be particularly vigilant for symptoms that could indicate tuberculosis infection in their children.
Unusual cough, night sweats, unexplained fatigue and weight loss should lead them to consult their doctor immediately.