A student at Truman State University has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease. This student has been temporarily isolated and is being treated in a hospital outside the community.

Tuberculosis, commonly known as TB, is a disease that can damage the lungs or other parts of the body, causing illness. It is spread when a person with active, untreated tuberculosis germs in the lungs or throat expels those germs into the air by coughing, sneezing or speaking.

Only people who breathe these germs into their lungs can become infected. Usually people who have had very close, day-to-day contact with the infected person are the only people who are at a higher risk of contracting the illness.

TB is less contagious than measles, mumps, chicken pox and influenza.

For detailed information about TB you can check out the Centers for Disease Control Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/tbfactsheets/tb.htm

The University is not naming the student for confidentiality reasons, but the University has been working with the student and the Adair County Health Department to identify those people who are known to have had close, regular contact with the student. Approximately 235 people have been contacted and asked to come in for testing to determine whether they have been exposed to the disease. Free TB testing took place on Wed. April 30, 2008 at the Student Health Center.  Another free TB testing at the Student Health Center will be available on Mon. May 5 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for those who were unable to come in on the 30th.

To date, none of the individuals identified as very close associates have tested positive for TB.

If the Adair County Health Department, in conjunction with Truman Student Center, has not sent a person an e-mail notifying them that they are a close associate, but they feel might be, they need to call the Adair County Health Department at 660-665-8491. The Health Department will determine if they are a close associate and therefore need to be tested. If testing is needed, it is important to understand that the testing can be done in the next few weeks.
 

Individuals with negative tests will be asked to receive a follow-up TB skin test after June 23. This test can be done at little or no cost by most local health departments. The Adair County Health Department, in conjunction with the Truman State University Student Health Center, will send reminders out to individuals who need follow up testing.

The Adair County Health Department, in collaboration with the Truman State University Student Health Center, will recommend necessary follow-up diagnostics for any individuals who have positive TB skin test results.