A member of staff in Year 6 at a school in Bexley has been diagnosed with tuberculosis.

A spokesman for Public Health England told News Shopper some people at the Business Academy Primary School are being screened for the disease.

TB specialists are working with the school to arrange screenings for some people who have had the most significant contact with the individual.

Jane de Burgh, public health specialist at PHE’s South London Health Protection Team, said: ‘’TB is a disease that typically requires close, prolonged and frequent contact before transmission occurs.

"Because of this, the greatest risk of spread is to people who live in the same household as a person with this disease. The risk to other contacts, including those in a school setting, is low.

“However, we are working closely with the school to follow national guidelines, which include identifying those with significant contact and arranging TB screening for them.”

TB is a disease that develops slowly in the body with symptoms appearing after several months.

Symptoms of TB include fevers and night sweats, unexplained prolonged coughs, unexplained weight loss and blood in your phlegm or spit.

The TB germ usually spreads in the air from another person who has TB of the lungs through coughs and sneezes.

Not all people with TB are infectious to others.

A spokesman for the school said: "The Academy was notified by Public Health England that a Year 6 teaching Assistant had been diagnosed with tuberculosis, and was being treated by specialist services.

"They were able to confirm that the member of staff responded well to treatment and is no longer infectious. As part of the procedure for dealing with such cases,

"Public Health England came into the Academy to carry out a risk assessment. As a precaution they screened all Year 6 staff and pupils."

There have been no other reported cases.

In a letter to parents and carers, seen by News Shopper, Public Health England wrote: “We have been notified that a person at Business Academy Primary School has been diagnosed with tuberculosis.

“This person is being treated by specialist services and is responding well to treatment and is no longer infectious.

“Public Health England have undertaken a risk assessment with the head teacher and we would like to reassure you that the risk of becoming infected following contact with this person is small.”

According to government statistics there was one reported case of TB in the borough of Bexley in the week ending on July 7.