BREAKING: A third confirmed case of tuberculosis (TB) has emerged at Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco, prompting the school to cancel in-person classes on Friday and suspend all face-to-face learning for the upcoming week. This urgent health situation is disrupting the academic environment just as students were settling back into their routines.
Classes will transition to an online format starting February 9, with teachers posting assignments electronically as the school cooperates with public health officials on contact tracing and testing plans. The school aims to have all students tested by February 13. Students who test negative will be allowed to return to campus for hybrid learning starting February 20.
“This is quite alarming, and it feels a bit like the COVID situation we faced,” said student Julia O’Neill. Many sporting events have also been canceled, further impacting the school community. Freshman Emma O’Neill expressed confidence in the school’s decision, stating, “We’re having online school for like a week, so everyone can get their tests, which I think is a really good decision to make.”
Public health authorities have confirmed the identification of 50 cases of latent TB infection among the student body, raising concerns about the potential for further spread. Health experts emphasize the importance of vigilance, as TB can take anywhere from two to ten weeks to incubate, complicating early detection.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong from UCSF noted, “You have these three people in the right conditions in a school where students are in close contact for hours. It can be transferred even more easily than in a household.”
Despite the unsettling news, students report feeling safe, thanks in part to the school’s proactive communication efforts. “The school has been keeping everyone informed,” senior Ashling Greene said, reflecting a sense of community amidst the crisis.
The school’s first TB case was reported back in November, but the holiday break may have concealed further infections, as individuals could have tested negative before the disease fully manifested. This outbreak has raised alarms among health officials, who regularly document around 100 TB cases annually in San Francisco.
Public health officials will continue to monitor the situation closely, reassessing test results every eight weeks until the outbreak is deemed under control. This situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected in the coming days.
For those following this developing story, stay tuned for more immediate updates as the school and health officials navigate this urgent health crisis.
