A student who took classes at both San Diego City College and San Diego Mesa College was diagnosed with tuberculosis and may have infected fellow pupils and staff at both campuses, the county Health and Human Services Agency reported today.
Those in contact with the student between Jan. 24 and April 15 may have been exposed, and can be tested for free this week at both colleges, according to the HHSA.
"TB can be treated and cured with medication, and that's why it's so important to identify those who have been exposed,'' said Dr. Eric McDonald, the county's deputy public health officer.
So far in 2011, 48 cases of TB have been identified in the county, according to the HHSA, which tallied 222 cases last year.
Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease.
