A fourth person in the Kaiserslautern area has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, according to the local health department.

The new case involves a toddler who lives in the same household as a young girl who tested positive last week, a city statement Tuesday said.

Health officials think both of them contracted the illness from the same adult, as children typically do not transmit tuberculosis themselves, Sigrid Katschinski, head of the Kaiserslautern Health Department, said in the statement.

Three cases were reported last week: a 6-year-old who attends day care in Kaiserslautern, a teenager in secondary school and a person from the surrounding district. All three were diagnosed independently of one another, and contact tracing efforts are ongoing.

Diagnosing tuberculosis can take time due to the complexity of testing, the health department said. Unlike rapid tests for viruses like COVID-19, tuberculosis diagnosis involves multiple steps and laboratory confirmation.

The Westpfalz Clinic said Friday that it was testing eight other children with suspected cases. The results of these tests have not yet been announced.

Tuberculosis is a serious bacterial infection that spreads through airborne droplets, such as those released by coughing or sneezing. Common symptoms include cough, fever, fatigue and weight loss.