Tulsa's TCC To Test Students For Tuberculosis After Case Confirmed

Tulsa Community College will begin testing students next week after a confirmed case of tuberculosis on campus.

News On 6 obtained a copy of an email sent by administrators to students. In the email, TCC says a student who attends classes at the school's southeast campus tested positive.

The email says TCC will test students on Monday morning and Wednesday morning.

The Tulsa City-County Health Department says it does not anticipate cases of TB to develop in other students or college employees.

Copy of email: 

Tulsa Community College (TCC) has been notified by the Tulsa City-County Health Department (TCCHD) that a student employed by the College who attends the Southeast Campus of TCC has tuberculosis (TB). This disease can be contagious through airborne droplets from a cough or sneeze, but is not considered highly contagious. TCC is taking a number of steps to ensure appropriate information is disseminated and to make available appropriate testing and treatment by the health department.

Please be aware that student, staff, and public safety as well as health education are our primary concerns. The TCCHD has assured TCC that this individual case does not represent an epidemic nor are TCCHD representatives overly concerned that more cases of the disease will develop. In general, repeated and close contact is necessary for TB to spread from one individual to another.

General information for students and employees follows:

1. Only those students, faculty, and staff with the most exposure to the student are recommended by the TCCHD for testing for TB. These individuals will receive a letter from Jan Clayton, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, if they have been exposed.

2. Testing will be located in the Student Union Chat Room at Southeast Campus. Dates/Times for testing: Monday, April 16 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Dates/ Times for results: Wednesday, April 18 from 9:00 a.m.– 11:00 a.m.

3. If those who need to be tested cannot get to the campus on that day, they may go to the TCCHD for testing during its regular business hours. The TCCHD is located at 4616 E. 15th Street or can be reached at 918-595-4103. Business hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00am-4:00pm and Friday 8:00am-11:00am.

4. The TCCHD does not anticipate cases of TB will develop in other students or college employees because of the limited contact with the student. However, TCC wants to make sure testing and treatment are available to those who are directly impacted. A positive skin test does not mean that you have the disease. TB is treatable and curable if one is compliant with treatment. If you have been exposed, taking medication can prevent the disease.

5. For more information on TB please feel free to contact Southeast Campus Student Health Services at 918-595-7769 or come by Room 2116. You may also talk to the Student Health Supervisor on your campus.

6. The following websites offer information on TB: www.cdc.gov or www.ok.gov/health (use the a-z index and click on t).

Please feel free to share the above information if you have questions from employees or students. And please share this email with those employees who do not have access to Lotus Notes.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Jan Clayton, Ed.D.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs