Denver health and public school officials on Monday began investigating reports of a potential tuberculosis spread at a city arts academy.
The exposure is believed to have happened during the fall semester at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, a kindergarten-through-12th grade school.
“During the holiday break, an individual was diagnosed with (tuberculosis) and Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy was identified as a location where people may have been exposed,” officials said in a news release.
Denver Public Health says it has been working closely with Denver Public Schools to determine which students and faculty were potentially exposed and should be tested for infection.
Officials did not say if the infected person was a student at the school or part of the staff.
The release said there is no known ongoing risk of tuberculosis exposure at the school.
“Faculty and students who are believed to have been potentially exposed have been contacted,” the release said. “Additionally, all students, families and staff at the school have been informed of the matter.”
Officials say people who have not been contacted by public health officials likely have not been exposed and do not need to be tested.
“We are conducting a standard and thorough investigation in partnership with Denver Public Schools, and have contacted people we believe should be tested,” Dr. Robert Belknap, director of the Denver Metro TB Control Program, said in a statement.
“We have no reason to believe there is any ongoing risk of (tuberculosis ) exposure at the school, and it is safe for students and staff to report to school as usual.”
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
