Tuberculosis alert at Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A health alert is going out to students, faculty and staff at Fresno State, after a student was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Fresno County health officials confirmed a student on Fresno State's campus has tested positive for tuberculosis, an infectious disease that can spread through the air. The infected student is currently in isolation, being treated at a local hospital.

The Fresno County Public Health Department first got wind of the possible case two weeks ago, and now they're looking at roughly 140 others who may have been exposed.

When Candice Amico checked her email Thursday morning she saw a notice that she may have been exposed to a student who is infected with tuberculosis or TB.

Amico, who doesn't live on campus, is one of 133 students and 5 faculty members who now have to be tested for TB. She believes the infected student is in her political science class.

David Luchini with the Fresno County Department of Public Health says the young woman first came to the health center on Fresno State's campus. When health officials there suspected TB, they called the county.

Luchini added, "We want to make sure anybody with close contact with her gets tested and see if they got infected with the TB germ."

All students who attended classes with the infected student, plus her teachers and close family members will need to go get tested for TB. The sometimes highly contagious disease can be transmitted through the air, but it all depends how severe the infection of the patient is, and how close, regular contact she has with people.

Luchini said, "It's serious that's why it needs to be reported to us and so we can be involved and get people screened."

Students on Fresno State's campus weren't too worried about the possibility of becoming infected.

"I think the school has it pretty in check," said Fresno State student Christian Cabral. "I'm not that concerned but I am pretty concerned I don't know I think I'm just more concerned about my grades."

Amico, too, isn't concerned. She plans on getting screened and knows there are treatment options available.

"My generation wasn't really around to know how big of an epidemic it was so we don't see how big of an importance it is," said Amico.

The infected student does not live on campus. She'll be treated at the hospital for several weeks before she can come back to school.

For those who were exposed, they'll need to undergo two tests over the next few months to make sure they are not infected.