Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan has issued a statement regarding social media reports about a case of tuberculosis detected in one of Tashkent’s public schools.

According to the ministry, an 11th-grade student of Public School No. 59 in Shaykhontohur District, M.S., visited Tashkent City Tuberculosis Dispensary No. 3 on 26 December 2024.

Her sister, M.D., stated that M.S. had been frequently ill in recent months and had only sought treatment at a private clinic. After her last consultation with an ENT doctor, she was referred to Tuberculosis Dispensary No. 3.

Following a radiological examination at the dispensary, M.S. was diagnosed with "Infiltrative tuberculosis of the upper lobe of the right lung in the disintegration phase, BK+." She was immediately hospitalized at Tashkent City Children’s Tuberculosis Hospital.

The Ministry of Health reported that six people who had been in close contact with M.S. at home, including two children under the age of six, underwent radiological examinations at Dispensary No. 3 on December 27, 2024. None of them were found to have active tuberculosis.

Additionally, under the supervision of Tashkent’s Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-being and Public Health, students and teachers from School No. 59 and a private educational center attended by M.S. were examined. All underwent radiography and Diaskintest screening at Dispensary No. 3.

During the examinations, another student, A.A. (born in 2008), a close friend of M.S., was diagnosed with "Focal tuberculosis of the upper lobe of the right lung, BK abs." She was also hospitalized.

Furthermore, three students (A.A., R.M., and E.D.) and one teacher (B.U.) were identified as having a predisposition to the disease, and preventive therapy was initiated.

Due to identified violations, Tashkent’s Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-being and Public Health issued an administrative protocol against the director of School No. 59, the ministry noted.

Currently, School No. 59 is undergoing major reconstruction as part of a state program. Elementary school students are temporarily attending School No. 115, while senior students have been relocated to School No. 82 in Shaykhontohur District.

On 21 January 2025, additional disinfection and sterilization measures were carried out at School No. 82. On 22 January, the school building was thoroughly cleaned and ventilated.

Similarly, School No. 115 underwent repeated disinfection and sterilization on 23 January.