There is a risk of exposure to tuberculosis (TB) for some Auckland University students after an infectious student visited the campus.
The Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) is contacting those who attended the same class as the TB infected pupil.
An email from ARPHS was sent to students who attended MEDSCI203, MEDSCI205 and CHEM390, identifying them as the classes visited by the infected person.
Medical officer of Health Dr Shanika Perera says ARPHS was recently notified of a student with infectious TB, and is now following a "well-established process" for managing the risk of further infection.
Health officials are working to determine the individual's close contacts who will be contacted by an ARPHS nurse via phone or email.
"TB is not easy to spread as it requires a prolonged exposure to transmit this disease. It is slow to develop and can be cured," Dr Perera.
So far, fewer than 10 students have been identified as having close or sustained contact with the individual.
According to the ARPHS website, TB is a bacterial infection that is spread through the air by coughing, sneezing or spitting and most commonly affects a person's lungs.
It's a treatable disease of which there are approximately 300 cases per year in New Zealand.
Life-threatening complications such as bleeding from the lungs are rare, but TB can still be a very serious disease for the young and elderly.
Symptoms of TB include:
- a cough lasting three or more weeks, often with thick phlegm
- tiredness
- night sweats
- weight loss
- swollen glands, usually in the neck
- coughing up blood is a widely known symptom of TB, but occurs a long time after someone is infected.
Students who aren't directly contacted by ARPHS are considered casual contacts with a low risk of infection.
Casual contacts can go about as usual, but may be contacted by ARPHS in the future as the investigation is ongoing.
Students who are worried they may have TB should contact their GP or student health services.
