An individual at Kaplan College may have exposed students and staff to tuberculosis, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
According to HHSA, the individual was recently diagnosed with TB. The Vista campus of Kaplan College, located at 3022 University Dr., could have been exposed to the disease anytime between January 2 and March 19.
HHSA reports there is no indication of an exposure at the school’s other San Diego County campuses.
Free testing for students and staff who may have been exposed is being provided today through Thursday of this week.
“Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer in a statement. “TB usually requires many hours of close, indoor contact to spread to others so most people who are exposed in classrooms do not get infected or develop the disease.”
TB can be treated and cured with medication. The most important part of TB is identifying and treating the affected person, as quickly as possible, as well as those who may have been exposed.
There have been 18 reported tuberculosis cases in the San Diego region this year, according to HHSA. In 2012, there were 234 reported cases.
