Cairns school to be tested for TB

Students and teachers at a Cairns school will be tested for tuberculosis after close contact with someone diagnosed with the disease.

Cairns State High School is working with Queensland Health and there are plans to screen those identified to have had prolonged exposure to the patient.

While there's been no official confirmation, some reports suggest the infected person is a Year 12 student.

The initial case is considered on the lower end of infectivity, Queensland Health says.

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious bacterial infection.

It can affect any part of the body but typically attacks the lungs.

It's understood testing will begin next Friday.

If someone does test positive, they'll be excluded from the school until given the all clear.