RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A case of “active tuberculosis” was identified at a high school in Raleigh, a spokesperson from Wake County said Friday.

Earlier in the week, CBS 17 learned parents of students at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh received notice the Wake County Health Department’s Communicable Disease division informed them of “a situation affecting our school”.

In that note, county officials said students and staff who had possibly been exposed would be contacted by Wake County Communicable Disease staff, but did not specify what caused the health alert.

On Friday, Wake County confirmed it to be tuberculosis.

“We have been notified that an individual with active tuberculosis was present at Leesville [Road] High School last week,” a county spokesperson said in an email to CBS 17. “We are working with Wake County Public School System to identify anyone who may have been in close contact with this person. Those individuals will be contacted directly with instructions for tuberculosis testing.”

Tuberculosis, commonly referred to as TB, mainly affects the lungs, but can also hurt other major organs. According to the Wake County Communicable Disease website, TB is an airborne disease that spreads in enclosed spaces.

“TB is spread through the air when someone who is sick with TB disease of the lungs coughs, sneezes, sings or speaks,” the site says. “Others can become infected by breathing the germs into their lungs.”

This means people who spend more time in indoor spaces with someone who is infected with TB are more likely to catch it. The Wake County Health Department said it is not spread through the air outside nor by shaking hands or sharing utensils, clothes, sheets, etc.

Those who test positive for TB can be treated with medication.