No New TB Cases So Far at CSUSB Palm Desert

By City News Service

No students and staff members fully evaluated for tuberculosis at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert campus tested positive for the contagious disease, and school and health officials were following up with 77 others for whom results were not available.

Of 43 people who completed the testing process, none showed signs of
infection, said Barbara Cole, director of disease control for the Riverside County Department of Public Health.

School and public health officials announced April 1 that a student at
the local campus was believed to have active tuberculosis, and mounted a
notification and testing regimen for students and staff who possibly were
exposed.

The unidentified student who initially tested positive was treated and
was expected to recover.

Riverside County health officials sent letters to students identified as at-risk, and campus officials similarly reached out to staff.

“While the risk of infection is slight, it is important that those who are notified take the time to get tested,’’ Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county’s
public health officer, said at the time. “It will provide peace of mind for
those who are concerned about being exposed or begin the next step in the evaluation process.’’

TB skin tests were performed at clinics at the Palm Desert campus, or
people could be seen by their own medical providers.

Those who had skin tests during sessions on April 7 and April 14, were
required to return two days later to have the results read.

It was not immediately clear if the 77 people for whom results were not
available failed to show up for skin tests, or underwent skin tests and failed
to return in two days to have them read.

image via shutterstock