Health officials, Cottey College continue to monitor TB scare

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

After a student at Cottey College was diagnosed with tuberculosis last week, the college and local health officials are working to make sure the student and everyone who had contact with her receive the appropriate care.

"We are working directly with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Vernon County Health Department following the guidelines of the CDC," Cottey president Dr. Judy Rogers said Wednesday. "Diana Fortune, the tuberculosis program nurse, has been very helpful. We have really had wonderful advice from her."

Rogers said that those on campus who have shared significant time with the affected student have been tested for exposure to tuberculosis and the testing should reveal results today.

"We can't know until the tests are read on Thursday," Rogers said. "At that time the college will be able to tell those individuals if they have had exposure to the disease and provide appropriate medical follow-up. Cottey will also test those individuals again in eight weeks, following the guidelines of the CDC."

Rogers said there is no reason to fear coming onto the campus or faculty or students leaving. She said the traditional trip to Europe won't be affected.

"As far as visitors to the campus, or students leaving campus to travel, both the state and the county have assured the college that students are at no greater risk visiting this campus than any other," Rogers said. "Cottey College takes the risk of tuberculosis seriously, and is following all instructions from the state and county health officials."

Although tuberculosis has been declining for years it still kills more people worldwide than any other microbial disease, an estimated 2-3 million per year. A recent case of tuberculosis at Cottey College has brought the disease back to the attention of local residents.

Next to HIV disease, tuberculosis is considered the world's leading global health threat. An estimated 10 to 15 million people in the U.S. are infected with tuberculosis. Without intervention, about 10 percent of those people will develop tuberculosis.

Despite the fact that it is a communicable disease, it is not easily transmitted. People, who become infected with tuberculosis bacteria usually have had very close, day-to-day, contact with someone who has tuberculosis; a family member, friend, or close co-worker. You're not likely to get infected from someone coughing in line at a supermarket or at a restaurant. Dishes do not spread tuberculosis, nor do drinking glasses, sheets or clothing, according to the CDC.

In most people who become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. The bacteria become inactive, but they remain alive in the body and can become active later. People with a latent tuberculosis infection have no symptoms, don't feel sick, can't spread tuberculosis to others, usually have a positive skin test reaction and can develop tuberculosis later in life if they do not receive treatment.

Tuberculosis bacteria become active if the immune system can't stop them from growing, the CDC said. The active bacteria begin to multiply in the body and cause tuberculosis disease. Some people develop tuberculosis soon after becoming infected, before their immune system can fight the bacteria. Other people may get sick later, when their immune system becomes weak for some reason. Babies and young children, people infected with HIV, people with chronic diseases and the elderly may have weakened immune systems. Other people can have weakened immune systems, especially people with any of these conditions: substance abuse, diabetes, silicosis, cancer of the head or neck, leukemia or Hodgkin's disease, severe kidney disease, low body weight or certain medical treatments such as corticosteroid treatment or organ transplants, the CDC said.

General information about tuberculosis is available on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Web site at www.dhss.mo.gov/Tuberculosis and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site, www.cdc.

hchstp/tb/faqs/q1a.htm.

Inquiries about local public health concerns or activities should be directed to the Vernon County Health Department at (417) 667-9891.