County health officials are concerned a patient with tuberculosis at California State University San Marcos may have exposed others.
A person from the school is being treated for the disease, and others on campus may have been exposed between Aug. 25 and Oct. 29, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) says.
The HHSA is working with the university to notify those they believe are at risk. The school is offering free testing the week of Nov. 17 at the CSUSM Student Health Counseling Services, located at 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road.
According to county public health officer Wilma Wooten, most people who come in contact with TB do not contract it. However, if symptoms develop, they include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
The disease can be treated and cured with medication once identified, Wooten says.
While not uncommon in San Diego, TB has been on the decline in the past few years. Local cases peaked in 1993 with 469 reported, but 2012 saw only 234, while 2013 had 206.
So far in 2014, there have been 160 cases of TB reported in the county.
Local
Last month, a person at Grossmont High School contracted the disease, and another case was reported at Lincoln High School in August.
Call the county TB Control Program at 619-692-8621 for more information about the CSUSM potential exposure.
