People at Palomar College and at Point Loma Nazarene University Mission Valley Regional Center may have been exposed to tuberculosis recently in unrelated cases, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.
HHSA is working with Palomar College and PLNU officials to notify students and staff that may have been exposed.
The first potential exposure at Palomar College was between April 24 and May 11. The potential exposure from a second unrelated case was between June 26 and Aug. 2. The college is located at 1140 W. Mission Rd. in San Marcos. For students and staff notified of possible exposure, Palomar College will offer no-cost testing from Sept. 18 thru Sept. 26, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Student Health Center on campus.
The potential exposure at PLNU Mission Valley Regional Center was on Aug. 28. The center is located at 4007 Camino Del Rio South in San Diego. Individuals who may have been exposed have been notified and testing for them will take place on Monday, Sept. 18, at the Mission Valley Regional Center.
“Symptoms of active TB disease include cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop active disease. Those who test positive for TB can be treated with medication to prevent or cure active disease; that’s why it’s important for those with possible exposure to get tested.”
TB in not uncommon in San Diego region but has been decreasing in recent years. There were 234 TB cases reported in San Diego in 2015 and 258 cases in 2016. To date, 132 cases have been reported in 2017.
For more information on this potential exposure, call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621.
