Photo by: Microbe World

An unidentified DU student has been diagnosed and is being treated for tuberculosis.

It is not known when or where the student was diagnosed, but the student has been moved to a private location until treatment can be completed, according to an email sent by the Health and Counseling Center (HCC) to the DU community.

The HCC is working with the Denver Public Health Department to investigate if other students could be at risk for contracting the disease. Students and other members of the DU community believed to be at risk will be contacted directly.

HCC staff could not be reached for comment.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection passed through coughs, sneezes and other daily interactions, but it requires specific conditions for a person to be contaminated. Its main symptoms include chest pain and coughing blood. Only people already infected with tuberculosis may spread the bacteria to other users, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). To be infected, one must inhale the bacteria before it may spread and multiply in the body.

However, tuberculosis cannot be spread by “shaking someone’s hand, sharing food or drink, touching bed linens or toilet seats or even sharing toothbrushes or kissing,” according to the CDC.

There are two types of tests to determine if someone is infected with TB: a blood test and a skin test. These tests alone cannot accurately determine if someone has the TB infection. A chest x-ray and mucus sample are needed to diagnose that stage of the virus.

The CDC recommends people undergo the TB test if they have either spent time with a person known or suspected to have active TB disease, have a condition that would weaken the immune system or are actively showing symptoms of tuberculosis.

If you believe you may have been contaminated, or have questions about tuberculosis, contact HCC at 303-871-2205 or Denver Public Health at 303-602-3700.

The Clarion will continue to follow this story as more information is released.