Hillsborough County public information officer Steve Huard talks about TB transmission
Tampa, Florida - Officials at USF's main campus said they will be testing dozens of people next week for tuberculosis, after a student is believed to have contracted the disease. The case was reported to the Hillsborough County Health Department earlier this week.
USF officials add that the student has started drug therapy, is recovering in isolation, and no longer poses a health risk to others. TB is spread when an infected person coughs, talks, sings, or sneezes germs into the air.
"The general rule of thumb for TB transmission is 8 hours of close personal contact," said Steve Huard, public information officer with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. "So with the help of USF we were able to just go back, find out where the person lived, the classes they had."
Around 150 students, staff, and faculty that are at risk, are set to be tested next week. So how do some students feel, knowing this disease made its way on their campus?
"Infections and diseases like this spread naturally through populations and stuff. It happens. There's no reason to panic or worry about it," said student, David Rhinehart.
"There's a lot of students on campus and we're all very involved in different things. So I guess the six degrees of knowing people. But who knows? What are the odds that it could come back to me," said student, Julia Rauchfuss.
Keep in mind, if you just walk by someone infected, you're most likely not going to pick up TB. Health officials also say the disease doesn't live in sunlight.
The tests that will be done next week will be blood tests, with results within a few weeks.