An Auburn University student has been diagnosed with an active case of pulmonary tuberculosis Thursday, Aug. 14.
Pam Barrett, director of the tuberculosis control office of the Alabama Department of Public Health, said approximately 90 people have been in close contact with the individual.
"The individual has active, contagious TB," Barrett said. "The people we identified as being in closest contact with that individual were notified yesterday through email. Those people are scheduled to be tested Tuesday."
According to Barrett, it will take all of Tuesday to evaluate the test results.
"It will take about three days for the results to come back," Barrett said.
Many Auburn students probably remember being tested for tuberculosis before enrollment. According to Barrett, this is not a test for active TB.
"They just tell us if you have been around someone with TB and picked up that the germ," Barrett said. "Most Alabama schools require skin or blood tests of students before they enter. I know Auburn does."
Barrett said tuberculosis is only spread through the air.
"TB is a bacteria that spreads through the air when someone shares air for an extended period of time in an enclosed area," Barrett said. "It is not highly contagious like chicken pox or the flu where you can just touch something and catch it. It is not something you would get in passing, or just with casual exposure."
Worldwide, tuberculosis kills approximately 1.3 million people every year and is the world's second deadliest infectious disease.
However, only a tiny percentage of those deaths come from the United States.
Jan King, Auburn University Medical Clinic's Nursing Manager, said Auburn students have no reason to worry for their safety.
"The general population of Auburn should not be concerned about catching tuberculosis," King said. "We've notified everyone who needs to be notified. We are working really closely with the Alabama Public Health Department."
For updates on the patient tuberculosis results visit ThePlainsman.com.
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