LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An infectious disease has been making national news in a nearby state.
Multiple tuberculosis cases have been reported at a Kansas high school this month, but Arkansas is also dealing with its own cases in several areas.
Arkansas sees multiple tuberculosis cases a year, but right now public health officials are seeing clusters in several counties. The fear is that there are more people infected and possibly spreading the disease unknowingly.
Dr. Naveen Patil with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) said there's a reason we are seeing these clusters of cases.
"The contacts have not identified and given treatment to prevent the disease, so that has been happening," Dr. Patil said.
ADH said there are clusters in Craighead, St. Francis and Green counties in the northeast part of the state. There is also a cluster in Howard County in southwest Arkansas and a few cases in northwest Arkansas.
Some of those cases include children, which can be deadly.
"We feel there might be more people who might have been exposed and we would like them to be screened and tested," Dr. Patil said.
Tuberculosis is spread through droplets when you are coughing or laughing.
Symptoms include a cough that won't go away after several weeks, fever, weight loss and night sweats.
Tuberculosis is curable and can be treated after infection. If you have been exposed, you are asked to contact the Arkansas Department of Health.