Tuberculosis scare at University of Saskatchewan

CTV Saskatoon: U of S confirms case of TB University and health officials are trying to track down hundreds of students and others who may have been in close contact with the infected student.

A student at the University of Saskatchewan has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis.

Health officials confirm the student is now getting treatment, but other students may have been exposed.

The Saskatoon Health Region says the student was diagnosed earlier this week, after missing classes because of illness.

University of Saskatchewan officials say they’ve been working closely with TB Control Saskatchewan, and the deputy medical health officer to identify students who were in the same classes as the infected student.

Students who may have been exposed are being asked to attend a testing clinic, and have been provided with information about tuberculosis.

Health officials say someone who has been exposed to the tuberculosis bacteria have about a 10 per cent risk of actually developing the disease.

“There is a low risk,” says Dr. Julia Kryzanowski, deputy medical health officer for the Saskatoon Health Region.

“We still want to test these students to manage their risk.”

Testing will take place Monday through Thursday of next week at the U of S, and results should be known by the end of the week.

Tuberculosis is typically curable with a standard six-month course of antibiotic drugs.