The student who was diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) two weeks ago has been treated, is no longer contagious and has returned to school to attend classes, according to Dr. Sam Alexander, executive director of DU’s Health and Counseling Center (HCC).

The student is a female. Her name has not been released. Information about the student’s return was sent to the DU community by an email last Wednesday. The email said the student is no longer considered contagious.The student was isolated in a local hospital from Oct. 29-30.

The student will take four medications for the next few months to treat the now-latent tuberculosis, according to Alexander.

Alexander said he believes concerns about the student contracting TB on campus are likely false.

“It is likely that the student did not get the TB here, but somewhere else,” said Alexander. “The health department is in charge of the student’s investigation and total treatment.”

There are no vaccinations for tuberculosis in the United States because TB is not an epidemic. Regardless of this, Alexander is confident that students have nothing to worry about.

“Even though the student did have TB, based upon the testing that was done, the doctors at the health department believe the student contracted a less harmful case of active TB than usual,” said Alexander.

According to the Bureau of Tuberculosis Control in New York, millions of Americans have latent TB without knowing it. Latent TB cannot be spread to others. 

“Active TB is spread from someone else by coughing, sneezing, laughing [or] being in close contact with someone who has active TB,” said Alexander. “Even if someone gets active TB from someone else, only about 10 percent actually get sick and become active.”

According to Alexander, students who may have come in contact with the student when the student was actively contagious have little to fear.

“I can reassure people that if they are deemed to be at significant risk, they will be contacted by the health department and they will be tested,” said Alexander.

“Anyone who is not contacted by the health department does not have to worry.”

A skin and blood test by HCC are available for those concerned they might have contracted TB.

However, because of the condition of the diagnosed student, the health department is confident the situation is under control.

“In this particular case, the likelihood that the student has infected another student is fairly low,” said Alexander.