A PUPIL has been diagnosed with tuberculosis at a North Yorkshire school - the second case there in little more than a year.

The county's health protection unit confirmed that an Easingwold School pupil had been identified as having the disease and was currently responding well to treatment.

In April last year sixth-formers and staff at the 1,367-pupil school, which also takes students from the north York area, including Haxby and Wigginton, were offered screening for the illness.

This followed diagnosis of a case of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in a sixth-former.

But it is not believed the two cases are linked.

Unlike the situation last year, health professionals have this time taken the decision not to offer a full screening programme to staff and pupils, believing it to be an isolated case.

In this instance, pupils and teachers in close contact with the pupil will be checked and advised appropriately.

TB is primarily an illness of the respiratory system and is spread by coughing and sneezing.

Despite being a potentially life-threatening and debilitating disease, it is curable with a course of antibiotics taken for at least six months.

The rate of TB infection in North Yorkshire went up last year, with 35 cases in 2004 compared with 15 the previous year.

This equates to five in every 100,000 people in 2004, compared with three in 100,000 in 2003 and 2002.

In a letter sent out to parents, head teacher Carey Chidwick said: "Close contacts of this case have already been identified and contacted and will be checked and advised as necessary.

"I have been advised that there is no need for any further action in the school at this time, as this appears to be a single, isolated case.

"There is currently no evidence to suggest this infection has been passed on to anyone else, therefore it is unlikely that any other student has been affected."

Dr Louise Coole, consultant in communicable disease at the North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, said: "We completely understand that parents of other pupils at the school will be concerned.

"That is why we have written to them to offer reassurance.

"There is no evidence at this time to suggest that this pupil's case is linked to a previous one confirmed in a sixth-form student last year. Indications show this is an isolated case, and that other students in the school are not at risk of infection.

"The North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, together with Selby and York Primary Care Trust, are following national and local guidelines to actively investigate and manage this case.

"Because of its nature, it is not appropriate to offer a full screening programme to staff and pupils.

"However, people in very close contact to the pupil will be checked and advised appropriately."

The school's chairman of governors, William Taylor, declined to comment on the case.

The school and North Yorkshire County Council also declined to comment.

Any parents wanting further information or advice should contact the North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit on 01904 567675.

Updated: 10:19 Monday, May 23, 2005