2008 Woodie Awards
Reported tuberculosis case is rare occurance on campus
Brandon Gorman
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: News
A student living in the residence halls tested positive for tuberculosis last week and was treated and released from an area hospital. The student is in isolation and will not return to campus until he or she is medically cleared of all symptoms.
University Health and Counseling Services was notified last Thursday by the State Division of Health about the positive diagnosis. The student is new to campus and has only been attending UW-Whitewater since the beginning of spring semester, Dean of Student Life Tisa Mason said.
The university sent out a campus-wide e-mail Friday alerting students and staff about the situation.
"It was a concern to me because I don't know who it is, and I could've been in contact with them," junior Jennifer Ross, a Lee Hall resident, said. "I thought [the e-mail notification] was OK, but I would've liked to know more details, such as what dorm they were in."
The name of the dorm that housed the infected student hasn't been publicly named, but students who lived in the same hall were notified, Ruth Swisher, director of Health Services said.
"We are in the process of making contact with those who were in close contact with the infected individual," Swisher said. "We don't expect anyone else to be symptomatic."
Tuberculosis is an airborne disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect the brain, the kidneys, or the spine, the Centers for Disease Control said. If gone untreated, TB can be fatal.
Symptoms of TB include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. If the disease spreads to the lungs, symptoms can also include coughing, chest pain, and coughing up blood the CDC said.
While the disease is serious, cases are rare.
"This is only the third case I've seen in 20 years," Swisher said.
Concerned students and staff can receive a free baseline skin test from UHCS to be tested for TB. People who should be concerned are those who spent more than one hour and were within three feet of the infected person. However, the tests will have no bearing for 8-10 weeks after contact was first made with the individual.
For more information or to schedule a test, contact UHCS at 262-472-1300 or visit the UHCS Web site at www.uww.edu/uhcs and click on Tuberculosis Fact Sheet.
University Health and Counseling Services was notified last Thursday by the State Division of Health about the positive diagnosis. The student is new to campus and has only been attending UW-Whitewater since the beginning of spring semester, Dean of Student Life Tisa Mason said.
The university sent out a campus-wide e-mail Friday alerting students and staff about the situation.
"It was a concern to me because I don't know who it is, and I could've been in contact with them," junior Jennifer Ross, a Lee Hall resident, said. "I thought [the e-mail notification] was OK, but I would've liked to know more details, such as what dorm they were in."
The name of the dorm that housed the infected student hasn't been publicly named, but students who lived in the same hall were notified, Ruth Swisher, director of Health Services said.
"We are in the process of making contact with those who were in close contact with the infected individual," Swisher said. "We don't expect anyone else to be symptomatic."
Tuberculosis is an airborne disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect the brain, the kidneys, or the spine, the Centers for Disease Control said. If gone untreated, TB can be fatal.
Symptoms of TB include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. If the disease spreads to the lungs, symptoms can also include coughing, chest pain, and coughing up blood the CDC said.
While the disease is serious, cases are rare.
"This is only the third case I've seen in 20 years," Swisher said.
Concerned students and staff can receive a free baseline skin test from UHCS to be tested for TB. People who should be concerned are those who spent more than one hour and were within three feet of the infected person. However, the tests will have no bearing for 8-10 weeks after contact was first made with the individual.
For more information or to schedule a test, contact UHCS at 262-472-1300 or visit the UHCS Web site at www.uww.edu/uhcs and click on Tuberculosis Fact Sheet.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Gary Biazzo
posted 2/15/08 @ 6:18 PM CST
Eliminating MRSA and other pathogens in buildings is not only possible, but it is affordable. The cost of a single infection to a hospital averages $15,434. (Continued…)
IAQServices
Gary Biazzo
posted 2/15/08 @ 6:25 PM CST
Eliminating MRSA and other pathogens in buildings is not only possible, but it is affordable. The cost of a single infection to a hospital averages $15,434. (Continued…)
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