An individual with active tuberculosis disease was present on the campus of Aloha High School from September to November of this year, health officials announced Monday. A letter was sent home to all parents of Aloha High School students Monday advising them of the situation.

The Washington County Health and Human Services Epidemiological Team was conducting a standard "contact investigation," including testing about 150 people who may have had significant contact with the sick person. Health officials say that person was no longer on the campus.

Kent Burtner, Communications Officer for Washington County Health and Human Services, stressed that the announcement was "not a medical emergency."

"TB bacterium is very slow growing and we expect to find all those who were exposed through testing in mid-January," said Burtner. "Those who test positive will be referred for treatment."

A public informational meeting was scheduled for Wedneday, December 19 at 7 p..m. in the Aloha High School cafeteria, with Dr. Gary Oxman scheduled to speak and answer questions.

The county planned to offer free testing for potentially exposed persons in January. This timing is based on when exposure to TB may have occurred and on the amount of time needed for the body’s immune system to react to the exposure and produce a valid TB test result.

The ill person does not have Multi-Drug Resistant TB, according to Burner, who stressed that while TB is a serious disease of the lungs, it is almost always curable.