A person at Southwestern College has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis and may have exposed others, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) said Wednesday.
HHSA officials are working to notify people who may have been exposed to the disease between March 8 and May 27.
“Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease,” said Sayone Thihalolipavan, M.D., M.P.H., County deputy public health officer, in a statement. “But it’s important to identify those who have been exposed because TB can be treated and cured with medication."
TB generally requires many hours of close, sustained indoor contact to spread.
School officials are offering free testing to students, faculty and staff who may have been exposed. The testing will take place at the Southwestern College Health Services at the Chula Vista campus student center on 900 Otay Lakes Road. For an appointment, call (619) 482 6354.
Symptoms of active TB include a cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
According to health officials, TB has been decreasing in San Diego County, though it is not uncommon, Wooten said. There have been 120 cases of TB reported in the county in 2016 to date. There were 234 cases reported last year and 220 in 2014.
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Call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621 for more information about the potential exposure.
