Infectious disease at a Bonn school Young teaching assistant dies of tuberculosis
Bonn · A young teaching assistant at a primary school became infected with tuberculosis and died. One child at the school was also found to be carrying the tuberculosis pathogens. Parents are now criticizing the information policy of the Bernhard School in Auerberg.
A 19-year-old who worked as a teaching assistant at the Bernhard School in Auerberg, died on February 22 of tuberculosis. Apparently, the bacterial disease was not the sole reason for her death. Officials said the young woman primarily supervised a child with special integration needs.
Some parents raised complaints against the city and school authorities that they had not been properly informed. Parents’ association member, Ines Basten said, “Many are criticizing that only a part of the parent body was informed. We also have kids at school whose parents don’t speak German very well and they don’t know where to get information.” Some parents criticized the fact that not all children were examined. Deputy spokesperson for the city of Bonn, Marc Hoffman responded by saying, “We informed immediately.” The city learned of the disease on January 27 and on February 1, there was an information evening for affected parents. They did not want to unnecessarily alarm the other parents.
Two days following the information evening, the health department medically examined 60 children by means of a skin test. Those who were tested had been in contact for a longer period of time with the infected person. Because one cannot contract the disease after just a short period of exposure, it was deemed unnecessary to test all students.
As a result of the examinations that were carried out, one child was found to carry the tuberculosis pathogens but the health department ruled out that the young teaching assistant had passed it on to the child. It was a “latent tuberculosis” which should not be put at the same level or confused with an active case, according to the health department. The child was not in danger, it would receive preventative medical treatment and still be allowed to attend school.
Ernst Molitor from the Institute for Infectiology and Infection Protection of the University of Bonn explained that tuberculosis can be easily treated when recognized early. It was an absolute exception that someone in Germany died because of it. Bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread through the air from an infected, untreated person to others by sneezing, coughing or speaking. The city health department sent out an information letter to parents, reacting to their concerns about the disease.
(Orig. text: Philipp Königs)
