Should students worry about TB?

At the end of last semester, it was confirmed there was a case of tuberculosis on campus.

When this information was found out, an email was sent to all students to notify them of the situation and students who the University believed were at risk were sent another email encouraging they get tested.

The definition of TB, according to Mayo Clinic, is a disease that mainly affects your lungs and it can be deadly. It spreads through the air when someone coughs, sneezes, laughs, etc., and some symptoms include fever, coughing up blood, chest pain, and coughing that lasts more than three weeks.

Director of Student Health Services Caesar C. Ross III gave an update on the situation.

“SC-DHEC and CCU-SHS are closely working with those identified individuals who may have been in close contact with the infected person. However, to protect the confidentiality of all involved team student health cannot provide further details related to this matter,” he said.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control has been assisting the University with this issue.

“This is an ongoing TB investigation. DHEC begins testing with those who are in closest contact to the individual,” according to the DHEC. “As the contact investigation progresses, additional people may be recommended for testing. The numbers of people tested may change throughout the investigation. At the end of the investigation, DHEC can share how many individuals were tested.”

It has been confirmed, however, that the University is still a safe place.

“It is safe for faculty, staff, students, and visitors to be on campus. The buildings are not a source of infection. All individuals who may have been exposed to the germ have been contacted and will be tested,” according to the DHEC. “The individual has been instructed to remain in isolation until DHEC has established they can no longer spread TB.”

Additional information can be found on the DHEC website.