UNCC student tests positive for tuberculosis

UNCC student tests positive for tuberculosis

11:05 AM EDT on Wednesday, October 1, 2008

By ANN SHERIDAN / NewsChannel 36
E-mail Ann: ASheridan@WCNC.com





45 students exposed to TB CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A group of UNC-Charlotte students are getting a warning that they've come in contact with a student who has tested positive for tuberculosis.

UNCC's medical director, Dr. Robert Jones, says students should not be worried.

"TB is not passed casually," Jones said. "This is not something you get from someone at a party or passed in a hallway."

He said the illness is passed by close contact.

"It shows us we have to be prepared for everything," Jones said.

The 45 student who were exposed to TB either were in class with the infected student or lived with the student. They've all been contacted and asked to come in to the student health center for a skin test.

"It's a very well treated disease. We have antibiotics that we've had the last 50 or 60 years," Jones said.

Symptoms of TB include fever, weight loss, chills and a soaking sweat. Other symptoms include respiratory problems like coughing and difficultly breathing.

The university will set up a phone line on Wednesday for students who have questions or parents who have concerns about their students.

The hotline will be available from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Call 704-687-3838.

For information about TB, visit these Web sites:

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/faqs/default.htm

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/ ... 85d3.html#

Last Updated: Oct 1 2008 9:52AM Login | Register

Patients with killer TB to be sent home

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Image of




2008/10/01

THE national Health Department has lost its fight against the deadliest forms of tuberculosis and will start releasing infected patients back into society because treatment programmes are failing.



In a move widely criticised as a health risk and a “time bomb waiting to happenâ€

Is this an immigrant? All immigrants should at least have a TB test done and E-Verified at the same time to prove they can be in America.

Maybe an elected official child has been exposed. Through their children and grandchildren maybe the elected officials will learn that they have abused their powers and hurt Americans.

[quote="jimpasz"]Last Updated: Oct 1 2008 9:52AM Login | Register

Patients with killer TB to be sent home

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Image of




2008/10/01

THE national Health Department has lost its fight against the deadliest forms of tuberculosis and will start releasing infected patients back into society because treatment programmes are failing.



In a move widely criticised as a health risk and a “time bomb waiting to happenâ€

The first article says" It's a very well treated disease. We have antibiotics that we've had the last 50 or 60 years," Jones said.


This same line is used in other articles about school children exposed to TB in our schools. Thats why I posted the ""Patients with killer TB to be sent home"

http://www.alipac.us/ftopic-133731-0.html

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Atlanta

Health Officials Link Gwinnett TB Rise to Immigration
Odette Yousef

ATLANTA, GA
(2008-09-18) As reported cases of tuberculosis decrease in most of the state, Gwinnett County has shown a persistent increase. The county appears on track to have the second-greatest number of cases in the state this year, and health officials point to its rapidly-growing immigrant population.

Fulton County has the most TB cases in Georgia, but like the most of rest of the state, the number is declining. Gwinnett is moving in the opposite direction.

Dr. Michael Leonard is with Georgia's Department of Community Health:

LEONARD: When we look at a pool of people as to who's infected with TB, certainly people who are from areas where TB is highly endemic, people that have emigrated from those areas are at higher risk for being infected with TB, and for later developing TB

Leonard says Gwinnett's immigrant communities may not have access to health care. But those who do health outreach for immigrants say it's about fear. When a Gwinnett County youth was identified as TB positive last summer, his family's illegal status was exposed.

Last year there were 473 reported cases in Georgia.


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Video Update

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Video: High School Student Diagnosed With TB


Gwinnett Student Diagnosed With TB
Student Not Identified By School Officials

POSTED: 7:13 am EDT October 6, 2008
UPDATED: 7:31 am EDT October 6, 2008


NORCROSS, Ga. -- Students at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross will have to be tested for tuberculosis, after a fellow student tested positive for the disease.

Friday, the school sent parents letters, which said it is working with the Gwinnett County Health Department to determine which students and faculty may have been in close contact with the student, who was not identified.

Officials said it's unlikely the entire student body will be tested, but the students that are identified will need to have a skin test.

“I’m really concerned, because I believed that all kids at the school are supposed to be tested for tuberculosis. If they can test all the kids, they will be fine,â€