COLDWATER, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Coldwater students expected essays and exams this school year, not tuberculosis. But last week, the district confirmed a tuberculosis case tied to the high school, prompting a health investigation.

In an August 29 letter, Coldwater Community Schools (CCS) and the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency (BHSJCHA ) assured families that the individual is receiving treatment and that TB, while serious, is both treatable and rare in U.S. classrooms. 

MORE NEWS: Feds Threaten to Pull Millions Unless Michigan Strips “Gender Ideology” from Sex Ed

Those potentially exposed will be contacted for free testing and health checks, according to WWMT News Channel 3.

Unlike the flu, TB doesn’t spread from handshakes, cafeteria trays, or shared pencils. Extended close contact is needed, but health leaders still advised parents to watch for warning signs: cough, night sweats, fatigue, or chest pain.

“We are committed to both an individual’s right to privacy and protecting the health of all students and staff,” CCS and BHSJCHA officials said.