An individual at MiraCosta College and an individual at Mid-City Continuing Education Campus were recently diagnosed with unrelated tuberculosis (TB) incidents, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) reported today. Limited numbers of students, faculty, and staff members at both colleges may have been exposed to the disease.
HHSA is working in close collaboration with the colleges to notify those who may have come in contact with the affected individuals.
The MiraCosta College Community Learning Center’s Adult High School Diploma Program is located at 1831 Mission Avenue in Oceanside. The period of exposure was from Nov. 22, 2011 to Dec. 27, 2011. MiraCosta College is offering no-cost testing for affected students, faculty, and staff on Feb. 21 from 9:00 a.m.-noon, at the Community Learning Center, 1831 Mission Avenue in Oceanside.
The Mid-City Continuing Education Campus is located at 3792 Fairmount in San Diego. The period of exposure was from Sep. 6, 2011 to Jan. 26, 2012. Mid-City Continuing Education Campus is offering no-cost testing for affected students, faculty, and staff on Feb. 21 from 6:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Mid-City Continuing Education Campus, Room #123.
“TB spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “Typically, only people who have had close, extended contact with the infected person run the risk of contracting the disease.”
Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease. TB can be treated and cured with medication, so it is important to identify those who have been exposed.
The affected students, faculty, and staff who may have been exposed will be notified by school officials and may go to their primary care physicians to be tested. Individuals without a primary care physician can go to a County Public Health or TB Clinic for testing.
Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
Individuals who would like more information may call MiraCosta College Health Services at (760) 795-6675, Mid-City Continuing Education Campus at (619) 388-4850 or the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621.
There were 263 cases of TB reported in San Diego in 2011, an 18 percent increase from 2010. There have been 22 cases of TB reported so far in 2012.
