Primary school teacher falls ill with tuberculosis
A teacher in Chemnitz has contracted tuberculosis. For this reason, the public health department, in cooperation with the school and youth welfare office, have already initiated initial measures to clarify whether other people may have been infected. The disease was only recently diagnosed in a teacher who teaches at Gablenz primary school. The person is hospitalised.
The public health department has already begun informing people who had close contact with the teacher. This will continue in the coming days. On the dates 1 August, 7 August and 12 August, there will be an information event for all pupils and their parents at Gablenz Primary School (Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 171, 09127 Chemnitz) organised by the public health department. Those affected will then receive individual counselling and, if necessary, a blood sample will be taken. The first results are usually available after a few days.
However, it is important to note that anyone who has been infected does not automatically become ill! People who are infected but do not fall ill are not contagious to others!
Tuberculosis is a notifiable infectious disease that was diagnosed around 6000 times in Germany last year.
The disease is primarily transmitted through the air, affecting the lungs in most patients. Symptoms of tuberculosis can include a cough lasting several weeks, night sweats, mild fever, general weakness and unclear weight loss.
The disease does not actually break out in all patients who are infected with tuberculosis. The pathogens often remain in the body without symptoms. Outbreaks are most likely to occur in immunocompromised people and small children.
Further questions and information
The City of Chemnitz has set up a citizens' hotline for further questions: Experts will be available on 0371/488 - 3344 in the coming days: On Thursday and Friday from 8:00 am - 7:00 pm and next week from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm.
Further background information can also be found at www.chemnitz.de.