Tuberculosis outbreak reported at Elmhurst University
DuPage County health officials are investigating cases of tuberculosis reported this week in students at Elmhurst University.
Two students tested positive for the contagious infectious disease Thursday, Elmhurst University President Troy VanAken said in a statement. They have been isolated and placed under medical supervision.
The school and the DuPage County Health Department said they have been working to identify and contact people who may have been in close contact with the two infected students. Those who were in close contact with them are being provided with free testing.
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a potentially life-threatening disease that is transmitted through the air when a person with active tuberculosis coughs or speaks. The disease can affect any part of the body, but it is usually known to affect the lungs.
Symptoms of tuberculosis include cough, fever, fatigue, sweating and unexplained weight loss, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Not all cases show symptoms.
Physicians can prescribe various medications to treat tuberculosis.
“In my almost nine years at Elmhurst, it’s been my privilege to see how this community has responded to different challenges we’ve faced,” VanAken said in a statement. “Because this situation is unfamiliar to most of us, it’s especially important that we be thoughtful and show care, grace and consideration during this time.”