Waukegan CUSD 60 notifies families of confirmed tuberculosis case at Brookside campus; health department follow-up urged

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 notified families that a confirmed case of active tuberculosis was identified at the Brookside campus and urged anyone who received an exposure notification to follow up with the Lake County Health Department.

Nicholas Alatsakis, director of communications for Waukegan Public Schools, said, "We strongly encourage anyone who received an exposure notification to follow-up with the health department and take the necessary steps to get tested." He added that "it is essential that we follow guidance from the Lake County Health Department to protect the health and well-being of our students, staff, and families."

The district said it has sent exposure notifications to affected families and posted additional information and links to a town-hall informational session on the district website and via school email. The district did not specify how many people were exposed or whether any cases have been confirmed among students or staff beyond the single case referenced.

Officials advised families to monitor communications from their school and the Lake County Health Department for testing instructions and next steps. The district also directed families to posted resources for questions about tuberculosis and the scheduled town-hall session for more information.

The district's statement did not include further clinical details or timelines for contact-tracing; families seeking clarification were instructed to contact the Lake County Health Department or their school for guidance.