Apr. 20--FAIRFIELD -- With the revelation Monday that students and staff at Fairfield University may have been exposed to tuberculosis, the extent of that exposure is being investigated by college, local and state health officials.
"We got a report from the state Department of Health," Judy Weindling, Fairfield U.'s student health center director, said Monday. But citing confidentiality requirements, Weindling declined to identify whether the person with the infectious disease is a student, professor or employee.
"It was someone associated with the university," she said.
There is no more risk of continued exposure to tuberculosis at this time, according to the university.
Weindling said university officials are following the state guidelines for investigating possible tuberculosis exposure, and if they find that anyone was definitely exposed, Weindling said they will be notified to come into the university's health center for testing.
"It's all pretty preliminary at this point," she said. "We're taking it seriously. Honestly, I think we have a great plan in place."
Though tuberculosis is a potentially serious infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs, most cases can be cured through medication.
Symptoms of active tuberculosis include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, fever, night sweats, chills and loss of appetite, as well as coughing that lasts three or more weeks, coughing up blood or chest pain.
While tuberculosis is contagious, it is not easy to catch and only about one in 10 people who has exposure to tuberculosis infection goes on to develop a fully active case, according to MayoClinic.com.
"It's always been around," said town Health Director Sands Cleary, "and it's still around." He said the town's nursing supervisor is working with Fairfield University and the state on investigating the case.
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