Tuberculosis outbreak in Hunan

Authorities with Hunan's provincial health and family planning commission announced on Friday that 29 students in a middle school in Taojiang County had been diagnosed with tuberculosis as of Thursday, while five other students are suspected of having been infected.

The infection began in August, and 38 students have resorted to prophylactic medication. So far, 72 students have received treatment, according to the commission.

On Friday afternoon, staff with the National Health and Family Planning Commission arrived in Taojiang to help deal with the outbreak.

According to the local government, the school has about 3,000 students. Of the infected ones, 25 are in the same class. All infected students are those expected to sit the national college exam soon.