UC Berkeley student with active TB being treated

BERKELEY — University Health Services recently diagnosed a UC Berkeley student with active tuberculosis (TB). A preliminary diagnosis was made at the student's first visit to UHS, and the student was immediately isolated at the request of clinical staff while confirming testing was conducted. The City of Berkeley Division of Public Health and UHS officials are now following the standard process of investigating the student's close contacts. City health officials have identified approximately 225 individuals who may have been exposed to TB and those individuals have been contacted and provided information on when, where and how to get tested. Tuberculosis is a slow-growing bacterial infection that is spread when an individual who has active TB coughs or sneezes. Most infections occur when persons directly inhale TB germs over an extended length of time. Brief or casual contact with an infected person does not spread the disease, according to health officials.