ANOTHER Dagenham school will be screened for the potentially deadly Tuberculosis (TB) disease after a confirmed case was found there. Doctors recently discovered someone with an active TB infection at William Bellamy Junior in Frizlands Lane. On Friday Ma

ANOTHER Dagenham school will be screened for the potentially deadly Tuberculosis (TB) disease after a confirmed case was found there.

Doctors recently discovered someone with an active TB infection at William Bellamy Junior in Frizlands Lane.

On Friday May 1, children were sent home with letters informing their parents that some pupils would be screened for the disease later this month.

Tests will be carried out on May 19 and 20 to find out whether or not the infection has spread to others at the school.

This comes just months after youngsters and staff at Cambell Infants School in Langley Crescent, Dagenham, were screened for TB.

Single mum, Lorna Davies, who's son Luke attends William Bellamy Junior, had her children vaccinated against TB earlier this year because of her concern that the disease was on the increase.

She said: "I find it very ironic that I had to fight to get the NHS to pay for my children's BCG jabs and now there is TB at my son's school.

"According to health officials Barking and Dagenham is not a priority area - but clearly TB is coming back.

"This is our children's health we are talking about. I'm just glad I had Luke vaccinated."

Screening children at William Bellamy will consist of a Mantoux test - a strong reaction means that person has come into contact with TB but does not mean they are infected.

Any pupil who has a reaction will be sent for further tests at the specialist Tuberculosis unit in Queen's Hospital, Romford.

A Health Protection Agency spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a single case of TB has been identified at William Bellamy Junior School, Dagenham.

"The patient is receiving appropriate treatment and is no longer infectious."

TB is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs, it spreads like a cold through coughing and sneezing.

Symptoms include; fever, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats and a persistent cough which may be phlegm or bloody.