It was announced on Jan. 14 that an active case of tuberculosis, also known as TB, was confirmed on Idaho State University’s Pocatello campus.
According to ISU Student Health Services’ MD Ronald Solbrig, after being put in isolation and on medication for a few weeks, the student diagnosed with TB is now faithfully continuing to take medication and has been released to participate in normal activities.
Solbrig said over the phone he does not know if the student has continued with classes or any other activities as of now, he only knows that the individual has been medically released to do so.
Solbrig explained that there are two kinds of TB, latent and active. According to Solbrig, latent TB is actually fairly common and is not contagious. He said that out of 15 cases in the entire state of Idaho, about 12 of those were latent.
“TB is curable,” explained Solbrig.
A six-month course of anti-biotics is usually prescribed to patients found to have a case of active TB.
“It is a very slow growing bacteria,” explained Solbrig, “and it takes a long time to kill because of that.”
An email was sent by Solbrig to students, faculty and staff to inform them of the situation. The email also included a brief summary with information regarding TB, its causes, means of being spread, symptoms and signs to look for if students were concerned.
According to the email, those at “significant risk of exposure” were contacted directly by either Southeastern Idaho Public Health or ISU Student Health Services prior to the circulation of the email.
Solbrig said those at “significant risk” mentioned in the email were identified by the student and ISU also notified those who were in contact with the student through classes.
The email stated, “If you have not been contacted with a phone call, text message or another email message, your risk is low and you have no need to be alarmed or anxious about your health.”
Individuals who experienced “3 weeks of cough, coughing up blood, fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, or chest pain” were directed by the email to see his or her health care provider for an examination.
“TB is actually pretty hard to catch,” said Solbrig. “It takes a lot of exposure over a long period of time.”
Solbrig said that TB is spread only through respiratory contact, meaning that TB can only be spread by directly inhaling the particles coughed, sneezed, sung or breathed into the air. It is not spread by germs left on a paper, desk or other object or by sharing eating or drinking utensils.
“It takes repeated exposure in small, enclosed places,” said Solbrig.
This is the second case of TB Solbrig has seen over the last five years. He said there was one other case that occurred about five years ago that turned out not to be contagious.
Those still concerned about their health due to the incident were directed by the email to call Southeastern Idaho Public Health at 208-234-5888 to discuss any concerns.
