BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Tuesday night the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) confirmed that University of Massachusetts Boston has a case of tuberculosis (TB) being treated on campus.
Officials told WBZ NewsRadio in a statement that the BPHC is working closely with the school to trace and identified close contacts who may have been exposed. TB required prolonged close contact to spread from one person to another, giving the BPHC reason to believe the active case does not pose a health risk to the general public.
On top of that, the BPHC says TB is a "very treatable and curable disease," urging UMass Boston students and staff to reach out to health services if they are concerned about potential exposure.
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Official say that as of Wednesday, some three dozen people were identified as possible exposures to the TB case.
UMass Boston requires students from "high-risk" countries to test for TB or submit documentation of a test administered after entry into the United States. Those who test positive are mandated for an evaluation from a healthcare provider.
WBZ's Drew Moholland (@DrewWBZ) reports.
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