Hartsville High students, staff encouraged to test for tuberculosis
The sign outside of Hartsville High School's entrance.
HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- The South Carolina Department of Public Health is "strongly encouraging" all employees and students at Hartsville High School to be tested for tuberculosis.
The recommendation follows the identification of one additional TB case that DPH believes is connected at the school in spring 2025.
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The TB germ can remain inactive in the body for months or years before causing illness.
"Testing details have been shared with all faculty and staff at Hartsville High. DPH, the high school, and the district have closely coordinated testing logistics and communications for those affected. Using DPH testing ensures results are returned quickly, allowing any necessary follow-up to begin promptly. All testing for those notified will be provided at no cost," DPH said in a release.
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The newly identified additional case had connection with the school during the 2024-25 school term and likely became infected during that time, DPH said in a release. The case raises concerns that others may have been unknowingly infected during the 2024-25 term as well.
“We urge the school community to get tested,” said Dr. Martha Buchanan, director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control. “Testing is the only way to know if the TB germ entered the body and infected a person. If the test result is positive, additional testing is needed to determine if a person has active TB disease, which can be very contagious and puts others at risk.”
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Due to ongoing transmission, DPH is working closely with the high school and district officials to make testing available to everyone at the school. DPH also had offered testing to all students, faculty and staff during the 2024-25 term.
In 2024-25 term, DPH worked with school officials to determine which students and staff may have been exposed. Identified contacts were offered testing and follow-up according to public health guidelines.
DPH expanded testing to all students, faculty and staff due to investigation findings. However, not everyone participated in the voluntary testing.
It is important to be tested because active TB disease can be highly contagious and deadly, DPH said.
TB is a bacterial disease that primarily affects the lungs and spreads from person to person through the air. When people with TB in their lungs cough, they release bacteria that others can inhale.
Those who become infected develop latent or inactive TB. Without treatment, about 10% of people with latent TB will progress to active TB at some point in their lives. The remaining 90% will carry the bacteria without ever developing the illness.
Symptoms can include cough, chest pain, fever, chills, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue. Individuals with these symptoms should seek medical attention or call their local public health department and ask to speak to a TB nurse.
The Darlington County School District directed all questions to DPH when asked for comment.
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