Rare, nonfatal skin infection found in N. Texans

At Tom Bean ISD we are aware of a report in the Dallas Morning News on September 15^th, 2007, a leishmaniasis was found in a Tom Bean person.  The article reports that the rare skin infection is caused by a parasite transmitted by sand flies.  This skin infection is not normally transmittable from person to person and even untreated will normally resolve itself within a few months.  The boils may take as much as 12 months to heal.  The article stated “It shouldn’t be a cause for alarm because physicians in Texas will be looking for certain skin lesions that don’t go away.”  Tom Bean ISD will continue to monitor this situation and maintain our student safety.