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Tuberculosis is often thought of as a disease that primarily strikes poverty-laden areas and third-world countries. However, recent cases of tuberculosis in public schools in the United States have raised new concerns about the illness right here at home. While the risk of getting tuberculosis in this country is still relatively rare, it is not completely out of the question. This article will explore the new cases of tuberculosis that have been reported at schools around the country, as well as a brief overview of the illness and some of the symptoms to watch.

What is Tuberculosis?

According to the , tuberculosis, also known as TB, is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria tubercle bacillus. These bacteria can survive in the body for years in a dormant state, which explains why some people can test positive for the infection, but not present with any symptoms of the disease. While tuberculosis ran rampant during the past two centuries, incidences of the disease are much lower today in most industrialized nations. However, in other parts of the world, tuberculosis is still a big problem, and health experts estimate that around one-third of the world's population is infected.

How is Tuberculosis Spread?

Tuberculosis is spread through the air, when a person who has an active form of the illness coughs, sneezes or talks, but it takes significant exposure over a period of time to actually "catch" the disease. The Health Protection Agency cites studies that

Forget the days of "pigs-in-a-blanket" and pizza for lunch. Today's public schools are hopping on the fruits and veggies bandwagon with more salad bars coming to schools this year. The new program, dubbed, "Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools," was kicked off at Riverside Elementary School in Miami, Florida this month, according to . Riverside is the first elementary school in the country to enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables the new salad bar offers.

This video explains how to utilize a new school salad bar in a healthy and safe manner.

The Choice of Riverside

Riverside Elementary was chosen to be the first school in this initiative because students in the school have begun growing their own garden, filled with tomatoes, eggplant, and kale, among other delectable selections. It is hoped that the school will harvest its own produce and bring it directly to the salad bar for lunches and snacks. The garden is grown in cement boxes since the school does not have any additional land to use for growing crops.

Many of the Riverside students are also excited about the prospect of a salad bar in their school lunchroom. Luciano Cabrera, 12, told the Scholastic Press Corps, "[Salad bars] are important because they're nutritious and help you and your bones grow." Ashley Battle, 11, added, "[They're important because they make your brain stronger and give you

The estimates that the incidence of childhood obesity has tripled in the last three decades, which makes weight one of the primary factors in children's health today. While school lunches may not be a primary culprit in the rise in obesity numbers, few parents and educators would argue that this daily fare could stand to be improved. One solution has been to add more fresh produce to the school lunch counter – some of which is coming from gardens grown right on school grounds. However, this approach to healthier eating is not without its share of opponents.

The Prevalence of School Gardens

According to a recent report on , schools around the world are tuning into the many healthy advantages of growing their own fresh produce. Students are assisting with the planting, cultivating and harvesting of crops that they eat right in their own school lunchrooms. Classrooms take turns weeding, fertilizing and coaxing crops along, until the great harvest comes along and school cafeterias get to work finding delicious, healthy ways to use the fruits, vegetables and herbs the students had been growing.

To help schools along the way, the Green School Initiative, the Healthy Schools Initiative, Farm to School and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN offer step-by-step planting guides and information about how to incorporate the growing process into the classroom. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's Guide to Federal Funding for Local and Regional

Most parents send their children to school each day under the assumption that the campus is a safe environment for all of their students. If a risk is detected, parents generally believe that school officials will do whatever necessary to eliminate the risk before allowing children to return to the scene.

However, some public schools across the country have found dangers lurking within school walls, but have not quickly or efficiently addressed these toxins. This concern particularly applies to dangers lurking within walls quite literally, as well as floor and ceiling tiles. The danger in question here is asbestos exposure.

In this video, The Mesothelioma Center explains how many of America’s students, teachers and school staff are at danger of asbestos exposure because the deadly carcinogen lurks behind walls, above ceilings and under floors in older schools across the United States.

What is Asbestos?

According to the , or EPA, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was once commonly used in the construction of buildings. Asbestos was previously a desirable material because of its ability to insulate buildings efficiently and its relative resistance to fire.

Asbestos was widely used throughout much of the last century until health officials found a link between asbestos and some types of diseases in the 1970s. At that time, much asbestos was removed from buildings, although walls, ceilings, and floors were

PE class has always been a cornerstone of a public education. However, some states are taking health concerns a step further by monitoring children's body mass index and reporting findings back to parents for further action.

Is a school weigh-in taking physical fitness too far? There are experts on both sides of the issue generating a compelling debate over "fat grades" in schools today.

The Obesity Problem

Few experts would argue the fact that childhood obesity is a problem of epidemic proportions today. According to the , the percentage of youth considered obese tripled between 1980 and 2004. Today, 19% of children between the ages of 6 and 11, as well as 17% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19, are classified as obese. That translates to about 25 million children in this country who are at greater risk of what was once considered adult health issues, such as high cholesterol, hypertension and lifestyle-related diabetes.

One way to determine whether an individual is obese is by calculating the body mass index, or BMI. The BMI is the ratio of a person's height to weight, squared, and it usually gives an accurate determination of an individual's body fat.

The CDC recommends that schools conduct BMI surveillance programs, similar to the ones some schools have adopted. However, in the CDC model, results are anonymous and used more to determine trends in specific population sects, rather than assessing an individual