A student at St. Maria Goretti elementary school was diagnosed with tuberculosis. (CBC)A student at St. Maria Goretti elementary school was diagnosed with tuberculosis. (CBC)

Toronto's public health department has confirmed that a case of tuberculosis has been reported at an elementary school in the city's east end.

St. Maria Goretti elementary school near Kennedy Road and Eglinton Avenue East reported a student had contracted the illness last Thursday, public health officials said. They did not release the child's name, gender or grade.

"Parents at a school in this case, and in most cases, really have nothing to fear," said Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's medical officer of health. "Tuberculosis is not easily transmitted in a school setting and we're really only concerned initially with looking at the closest contacts of the individual."

Notification time leaves parents unhappy

Some parents of students at St. Maria Goretti elementary wondered why it took almost a week for them to be notified that a student at the school had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Toronto Public Health said the student was diagnosed last Tuesday. They contacted the school Thursday and letters to parents went out on Monday. “I’m really angry,” one parent told CBC News. “We’re parents, you know. You have to take your kids’ health and concerns seriously.” The school has issued two information letters: one to the general student body, which says anyone who had casual contact with the student is not at risk and doesn’t need to be tested. Another letter is going out to about 50 or so students who may have been exposed. The letter includes a phone number linking parents directly to a tuberculosis nurse at Toronto Public Health.

Dr. Elizabeth Rea, associate medical officer of health for the city, said the student was diagnosed last Tuesday and was not attending school at the time.

She said the student is doing well, and Toronto Public Health met with the principal last week to discuss the situation.

"We see absolutely no risk to the school as a whole," said Rea. "TB is not easy to catch. Going back to influenza and measles, those are way more infectious than tuberculosis."

Public health said there are about 300 cases of the infectious disease every year in Toronto. Five or 10 of those cases occur in schools, said McKeown.

A letter being sent home with students today said the general school population is "at very low risk of exposure and that only those with close contact are at risk and should be tested for TB."

Tuberculosis is a serious disease spread through coughing and sneezing, with symptoms such as a cough that lasts more than three weeks, fever and chills, night sweats, fatigue and weight loss.

The school plans to hold two information sessions about tuberculosis at the school on April 14, one at 4 p.m. and a second at 7 p.m. ET.

With files from The Canadian Press