Tuberculosis reported at Southwestern College

CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Students, faculty and staff at Southwestern College may have been exposed to TB, health officials said Wednesday.

A person who was on campus between August 20 and November 8, 2018 was tested positive for the highly infectious respiratory disease. College officials work with college staff to inform as many people as possible who may have been in contact with the infected person.

The college will provide free tuberculosis tests for those who may have been exposed to school. The tests will be available from December 3rd to 14th at the Southwestern College Student Health Services, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Student Center, Room 601F in Chula Vista.

"The initial infection usually has no symptoms. We therefore recommend testing all exposed people to make sure they are not exposed, "said Wilma Wooten, MD, MPP, County Public Health Officer. "For all those infected, early diagnosis and prompt treatment can prevent the infectious form of the disease."

For more information on possible exposure, call the Southwestern Student Health Services at 619-482-6354 or the County Tuberculosis Control Program at 619-692-8621.