TB diagnosis leads to student fear and testing

Member of the College community is being treated for TB

College administration was notified last Thursday that an individual in the College community has been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB).

Student Health, along with the Lorain County TB and Chest Clinic, have been working together to provide information to the campus and to perform tests. According to College physician Judith Appleton, there is little cause for alarm because the individual has not had contact with many people on campus.

The individual is currently undergoing treatment and is no longer contagious, although it cannot be said how long the person was contagious before treatment. No active disease has been found in those who were in closest contact with the individual.

"We have a pretty good idea of where this person has been and it is fairly limited," she said.

Student Health staff is taking no chances, however. Appleton has directly notified those students and staff who had had contact with the individual and asked them to be tested. On Monday Appleton visited classes that the individual attended and gave information about the disease and testing times.

Because 10-12 weeks must elapse before the infection can be measured by the test, any positive reactions now will not have been caused from the individual on campus. For this reason, those who have been directly asked to be tested must retest in December.

According to Assistant Dean of Students Yeworkwha Belachew, students have taken the information in stride.

"[Students] are not very much concerned about it," she said.

"I probably should be worried, but I'm not...sicknesses spread like wildfire around here," a College sophomore said.

Student Life and Services has been working with health officials and distributing informative pamphlets around campus. Students are advised to see their residence coordinator if they have questions.

Because of increased need for the service, the normal TB testing times have been extended into next week. Testing will occur in Wilder on Friday afternoon and Monday evening. The service is free for students and staff of the College.

"I would like to encourage that all people who were directly advised to be tested to do so and get their follow-up tests in December. I also welcome anyone else who is concerned to come to testing times," Appleton said.