Update for Parents and Students (Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011)
This morning, Alabama Department of Public Health officials met with Troy University officials and reported that all those individuals in close contact with the initial patient have been identified. ADPH reports no additional cases of active tuberculosis have been identified at this time. Tests conducted to date have revealed a very low positivity rate for latent tuberculosis, which is not contagious.
Testing will continue until all those identified have been evaluated by the Department of Public Health. In addition, all individuals identified as having been in close contact with the initial patient will beretested in January of 2012, as is recommended by the Alabama Department ofPublic Health.
Update for Parents and Students (Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011)
This afternoon, the Alabama Department of Public Health notified Troy University that the diagnosis of active tuberculosis has been confirmed in the initial patient.
Shortly before noon today, the Alabama Department of Public Health had tested 177 individuals for tuberculosis as part of the on-going investigation of those identified as having been in close contact with the initial patient. ADPH staff will review results of the tests with these individuals beginning Thursday, Nov. 10. If necessary, additional testing will be conducted.
Message to Parents of Troy Campus Students (Monday, Nov. 7, 2011)
A student on the Troy Campus is suspected of having contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and we are working with the Alabama Department of Public Health Tuberculosis Control Division to address this situation.
The safety of your student is our primary concern at Troy University and we need your cooperation in this matter. Tuberculosis is both preventable and treatable.
Our student services personnel and health department officials are identifying and
interviewing those students, faculty and staff members who may have been in close contact with this student. The students who are identified as most at-risk by health officials will be tested, and, if necessary, treated for tuberculosis. TB spreads in an airborne form, but requires extremely close contact (exposure of several hours in a single 24-hour period in a relatively closed environment) to spread.
Please encourage your student to cooperate fully with the Alabama Department of Public Health team members and follow their directions in this matter. They are the experts on identifying, treating and curing this disease.
Those not contacted for screening by University or public health officials in all likelihood have not been exposed. However, if your student is not contacted but you feel he or she should seek medical care, please have him or her visit the Student Health Center, the Alabama Department of Public Health Office at 900 S. Franklin Drive in Troy, or contact a personal physician.
