TB scare at Kaplan College in Vista

VISTA (CNS) – Students and employees at Kaplan College in Vista might
have been exposed to tuberculosis, and free testing will be available Wednesday
and Thursday, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced.

An individual at the campus who was not identified might have exposed
others between Jan. 2 and March 19, the HHSA reported.

There is no evidence that infections occurred at two other Kaplan
campuses in San Diego County, according to the agency.

Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and
unexplained weight loss, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county public health
officer.

“TB usually requires many hours of close, indoor contact to spread to
others so most people who are exposed in classrooms do not get infected or
develop the disease,” she said.

Tuberculosis can be treated with medication, but it's important to
identify who has been infected so they don't expose others, Wooten said.

So far this year, 18 cases of TB have been reported to the HHSA. In
2012, there were 234 diagnosed cases.