2 Tuberculosis Cases At Elmhurst University

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst University said Thursday evening it received confirmation earlier in the day that two students tested positive for tuberculosis.

In a statement to employees and students, the school said the students have been isolated and are under medical supervision. The message was attributed to the school's president, Troy VanAken.

About 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Patch emailed the school's spokeswoman, Desiree Chen, about reports of TB cases on campus. She said she would look into it.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Chen emailed Patch, "We've been advised to refer you to the DuPage County Health Department."

Around the same time, the school emailed the statement about the TB cases to its thousands of students. Patch obtained the message independently of the university.

In a statement, the health department said it was aware of the two cases at the university. The agency said it is coordinating with healthcare providers to make sure the students get the proper treatment. It said it is also working closely with the university to identify and notify people who may have been exposed while the students were infectious.

"It is important to know that a person who is exposed to TB germs is not able to spread the germs to other people right away," the health department said. "Only persons with active TB disease can spread TB germs to others."

In the university's statement, VanAken said federal privacy laws bar it from releasing more information about the students suffering from TB.

The school said it was in contact with infectious disease specialists at the county health department, which launched a "contact" investigation.

The university said it was arranging free testing on campus with the health department. It is also working to schedule information sessions to answer questions.

TB is caused by a germ and spreads through the air from one person to another when someone is sick with the disease, according to the health department's website.

The disease commonly infects the lungs, but can infect other parts of the body, including the kidneys, spine and brain, the department said.

In the statement, VanAken said that while TB is a potentially serious disease, it is also preventable and treatable.

"In my almost nine years at Elmhurst, it's been my privilege to see how this community has responded to different challenges we've faced," he said. "Because this situation is unfamiliar to most of us, it's especially important that we be thoughtful and show care, grace and consideration during this time."