A FOREIGN student is recovering after a case of Tuberculosis was confirmed at a Bournemouth language school.

The student, believed to be a Brazilian man in his 20s, is no longer attending the Bournemouth Academy in Westover Road, which has remained open.

It is thought that he needed hospital treatment for the disease.

In a statement, the Health Protection Agency said: “The affected person is recovering well and away from the academy.

“As a standard and precautionary measure, the TB nurse specialists have identified all close contacts of the case, including students, staff and the wider community to be offered screening for TB.

“Fortunately TB is not easily passed on from person to person, to be at risk you need to spend significant, close, prolonged contact with someone who has TB, such as living in the same household or being a close partner.

“Therefore it is very unlikely that other students and staff at the academy, who have not already been identified as close contacts, are at risk from catching the disease and therefore they do not need to be screened.”

The HPA is working with the Academy, Bournemouth Council and the local NHS partners following the confirmed TB case.

Jennifer Taylor, consultant in health protection, South West (South) Health Protection Unit, said: “It is important to stress that TB is difficult to catch. We are working closely with healthcare professionals and the academy to provide as much information as possible to students and staff.

“A letter from the academy containing advice from the HPA will be sent to students providing advice about TB. All close contacts identified for screening will be provided with written information about the possible exposure to TB to present to any clinician they might consult in the future to aid treatment plans.”

When the Daily Echo contacted the Academy yesterday, a woman said she was not aware of the TB case.

Falling victim to consumption...

• TB is caused by a germ which usually affects the lungs.

• Although not a common illness in the UK, it can affect all ages and nationalities.

• Symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, fever, night sweats and loss of appetite. When the lungs are infected the victim of the disease may have a chronic cough.

• Some types of TB are infectious and can be passed on to others.

• People who have been in contact with a TB case do not need to stay off school/work or avoid going on holiday unless their screening indicates they have active TB disease.