URGENT UPDATE: A third confirmed case of tuberculosis has forced Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco to cancel all in-person classes on Friday and suspend on-campus learning for the upcoming week. This alarming outbreak has prompted the cancellation of numerous sporting events, affecting students and faculty alike.
Students are now grappling with the fear and uncertainty surrounding the outbreak. Julia O’Neill, a Riordan High student, expressed her concerns, stating, “Yeah, you know it’s kind of crazy because it reminds me a bit of COVID.” In a letter to families, the school president confirmed that teachers will transition to an online format for assignments next week.
From February 9-20, the school will implement a hybrid model. Students who test negative for TB will be permitted to attend classes on campus. Freshman Emma O’Neill noted, “I’m okay with it because Riordan is trying their best to make sure that we’re safe.”
The school’s administration is actively collaborating with the city’s public health department on contact tracing efforts, aiming to test all students and staff by February 13. In addition to the three active TB cases, authorities have identified 50 cases of latent infection.
Despite the mounting concerns, many students feel secure with the school’s proactive measures. Senior Ashling Greene remarked, “A tiny bit, I know the school has been keeping everyone informed.”
The initial TB case was reported in November, but the holiday break may have masked additional infections. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, explained, “The problem with TB is it can take a long time to incubate in some people, anywhere from two to 10 weeks.” He indicated that earlier testing may have resulted in false negatives as the disease could have remained dormant during that time.
In San Francisco, approximately 100 cases of TB are reported annually. Dr. Chin-Hong emphasized the risk within a school setting, stating, “You have these three people in the right conditions in a school where students are studying and learning for hours a day in close contact.”
Public health officials will continue to monitor test results every eight weeks until this outbreak is declared over. This situation highlights the urgent need for vigilance and safety in educational settings as schools navigate the complexities of infectious diseases.
Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds. If you’re following the latest on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live.
