ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 13, 1996 TAG: 9610140082
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-11 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GLOUCESTER
SOURCE: Associated Press
School officials in Gloucester County were not notified about a teacher who was being treated for tuberculosis until more than two months after the teacher was diagnosed, a published report says.
The Gloucester High School teacher had been diagnosed with the disease by a Virginia Beach doctor in July, Tom Privett, director of the Virginia Department of Health's Bureau of Tuberculosis Control, told the (Newport News) Daily Press for a story published Friday.
The teacher was put on leave Oct. 3, the day Gloucester authorities learned of the condition, the newspaper said.
Privett said the doctor notified the Virginia Beach Health Department on July 15 of the TB case, as required by state law.
But instead of directly contacting the Gloucester County Health Department with the information, which is the recommended procedure, the Virginia Beach department notified an employee of Privett's office who is assigned to the Hampton Roads area.
``He received the information on July 16 and attempted to call Gloucester that day, but was unsuccessful getting through,'' Privett said.
When Gloucester health officials eventually were notified, they immediately notified the county's school system. The teacher, who has not been identified, was placed on leave pending certification by the Health Department that there is no danger of contagion.
Privett did not identify the employee who made the mistake or say if the employee would be disciplined. But he called the error ``truly an aberration.''
The county Health Department will test students and adult school employees who have been determined to be at highest risk. The testing will be done Oct. 18.
LENGTH: Short : 42 linesby CNB