Fayetteville students test negative for TB

Fayetteville, N.C. — The two remaining children, who were hospitalized with a suspected case of tuberculosis have tested negative for the illness, public health officials said.

The children of the Fayetteville’s Highland Learning Center were allowed to go home on Saturday, hospital spokesman Clinton Weaver said.

Cumberland County health officials administered tests to at least 140 children and staff members from the center after a substitute teacher there tested positive for tuberculosis.

Three students had abnormal chest X-rays and were taken to Cape Fear Valley Hospital for further tests.

The children were placed in negative-pressure rooms to reduce the possible spread of infection, and they were undergoing a procedure called gastric washing in which a tube is placed in the stomach daily for three days.

The other child tested negative and was allowed to home on Friday.

Officials will test the children and staff members again in eight weeks.