LONGMONT, Colo. -- New concerns about an outbreak of tuberculosis at Longmont High School that has infected dozens of teenagers, but these worries are from parents whose children don't even attend the school.
A regional wrestling match brought 14 teams to Longmont High School from around the area.
An email from a parent raised a concern about having the match at the school where about 60 students and staff have tested positive for latent TB.
As students wrestle on mats, their parents in the stands also wrestle--with worries.
"We had concerns about it," says Michael Ornelas, whose son is a senior wrestler at Fort Lupton High School.
He and other parents worry about a bacterial infection that's infected dozens of students and staff from Longmont high, the host school.
"I'm surprised they didn't change the venue, especially with a TB outbreak," says mother of a freshman wrestler, Denise Garcia.
But tests on about 160 people at the school show just one has active TB.
Forty-percent of the rest had latent TB, which doctors say is not contagious, but it can be dangerous to the infected individual.
"The reason we worry about latent TB is there is a chance over their lifetime they could reactivate and get active TB. That happens about 10-percent in a lifetime for a normal healthy person," says Dr. Chris Czaja of National Jewish Health.
One mother who hadn't even heard about the school's string of TB cases says she should have been told regardless of the risk.
"That is the most concerning is we were not told about it. So we didn't have the option, do we want our kids on the mat with someone who may be infected," says Bev Armour, another concerned mom.
She says their kids have been told in the past about outbreaks at schools. But she says they're usually less serious skin infections, like ringworm.
Some parents say they have to trust their coaches to do what's best for the children.
"They must think it pretty safe to be able to continue it, because they do a good job to assure the safety of the kids," says Ornelas.
And the wrestlers themselves have more on their minds than a bacterial infection.
"I have a bigger goal in mind. I want to take regionals, then go to state," says Fort Lupton wrestler Phoenix Ginther. "Besides, I'm really healthy."
The Colorado High School Activities Association says it did receive a few emails and calls from parents concerned about the match. But it investigated it and found there was no risk.
It says it relies on schools to pass along information for things including infectious outbreaks so they can take precautions.
It also says it would hope parents trust the organization would never place their kids in any risky situation.
Starting Monday, public health officials will test the rest of Longmont High School's students and staff, which they'll conclude the following week.
Also Monday night, Denver HYealth will hold a meeting at the school to answer parent's questions.
A regional wrestling match brought 14 teams to Longmont High School from around the area.
An email from a parent raised a concern about having the match at the school where about 60 students and staff have tested positive for latent TB.
As students wrestle on mats, their parents in the stands also wrestle--with worries.
"We had concerns about it," says Michael Ornelas, whose son is a senior wrestler at Fort Lupton High School.
He and other parents worry about a bacterial infection that's infected dozens of students and staff from Longmont high, the host school.
"I'm surprised they didn't change the venue, especially with a TB outbreak," says mother of a freshman wrestler, Denise Garcia.
But tests on about 160 people at the school show just one has active TB.
Forty-percent of the rest had latent TB, which doctors say is not contagious, but it can be dangerous to the infected individual.
"The reason we worry about latent TB is there is a chance over their lifetime they could reactivate and get active TB. That happens about 10-percent in a lifetime for a normal healthy person," says Dr. Chris Czaja of National Jewish Health.
One mother who hadn't even heard about the school's string of TB cases says she should have been told regardless of the risk.
"That is the most concerning is we were not told about it. So we didn't have the option, do we want our kids on the mat with someone who may be infected," says Bev Armour, another concerned mom.
She says their kids have been told in the past about outbreaks at schools. But she says they're usually less serious skin infections, like ringworm.
Some parents say they have to trust their coaches to do what's best for the children.
"They must think it pretty safe to be able to continue it, because they do a good job to assure the safety of the kids," says Ornelas.
And the wrestlers themselves have more on their minds than a bacterial infection.
"I have a bigger goal in mind. I want to take regionals, then go to state," says Fort Lupton wrestler Phoenix Ginther. "Besides, I'm really healthy."
The Colorado High School Activities Association says it did receive a few emails and calls from parents concerned about the match. But it investigated it and found there was no risk.
It says it relies on schools to pass along information for things including infectious outbreaks so they can take precautions.
It also says it would hope parents trust the organization would never place their kids in any risky situation.
Starting Monday, public health officials will test the rest of Longmont High School's students and staff, which they'll conclude the following week.
Also Monday night, Denver HYealth will hold a meeting at the school to answer parent's questions.
