Middlesex London Health officials will be testing the Westminster High School students and staff for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis which is responsible for causing Tuberculosis. The tests are precautionary measures after a student of the school was tested positive for the active form of the bacterium and the officials are testing the presence of these bacteria in other students and staff of the school as it would have spread to them from the infected student.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid fast bacterium which is responsible for causing tuberculosis which affects the lungs by forming tuberculoid which can lead to other secondary infection through out the body. If tuberculosis is not treated early it can be fatal. Most of the human beings will have the inactive form of the bacterium in the body and when the immune system of the person is reduced the bacteria becomes very infective and can spread through air droplets.Mantoux test is the skin test done by injecting tuberculin (mild form of the bacterial antigen) which detects the presence of tubercle bacilli along with X-ray of the lungs to confirm the presence of bacterium in the lungs.
