St. John's student diagnosed with tuberculosis

Newfoundland and Labrador's largesthealth authoritysays a student at Holy Heart of Mary High School in St. John's hasa confirmed case of tuberculosis.

Eastern Health officials would not give the age of the student or say whether the student is a boy or a girl.

Health officials have been notifying anyone who would normally be in close contact with the student, so those people can be tested for the disease.

The Eastern School District has also sent letters home to parents of students who are friends of the student with tuberculosis.

"The risk to students who are identified as close contacts is anticipated to be very low," said Dr. David Allison, medical officer of health for Eastern Health.

"Any individual who is identified as a contact will be notified by us directly this means that if parents have not been notified about their child, the child is not considered to be a close contact."

Treatment for the disease involves taking medication for six to 12 months.