About a week after two cases of tuberculosis were confirmed at Floyd County elementary schools, a case of impetigo was diagnosed at another county elementary school, officials said Friday.
The Floyd County School District said in a news release that one confirmed case of impetigo was discovered at Alto Park Elementary School.
A letter notifying parents in the school district has been sent, the release said. The school was also disinfected Thursday night, and officials plan to repeat the process Friday night after classes.
The disease, which is highly contagious through physical touch, causes itchy rashes and sores. An antibiotic is the most common form of treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.
MORE: 2 cases of tuberculosis confirmed at Floyd County elementary schools
On Feb. 28, the school district was notified by the Georgia Department of Public Heath that one confirmed case of tuberculosis was discovered at both Model Elementary School and Johnson Elementary School, AJC.com previously reported. All three schools remain open.
Tuberculosis, or TB, is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs, according to the Mayo Clinic. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.
MORE: Case of tuberculosis confirmed at Gwinnett high school
A Gwinnett County high school also had a confirmed case of tuberculosis last Friday. The principal of Discovery High School said in a letter to parents a student was diagnosed with the disease and is undergoing treatment.
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Treatment for tuberculosis is available, and there are 10 drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to combat the disease, according to the CDC.
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The drug Bacille Calmette-Guerin is used as a vaccine to prevent the disease, but it is not widely used in the U.S. and "should only be considered for children who have a negative TB test," the CDC said.
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