UMass Boston reports active tuberculosis diagnosis in student – Boston 25 News

UMass Boston Campus Reports Case of Active Tuberculosis

Health officials at UMass Boston have notified the school community about a confirmed case of active tuberculosis on campus. The University Health Services Director, Robert Pomales, revealed that about 39 individuals were potentially exposed to the infected person and have been informed about precautionary measures.

The person with tuberculosis, whose connection to UMass Boston was not disclosed, is currently undergoing treatment. However, it’s believed that the infection may have been acquired several years ago and only recently became active.

In a letter to the campus community, Pomales emphasized that while tuberculosis is a serious disease spread through the air, there’s no heightened risk for the general UMass Boston population to become infected as a result of this case.

Tuberculosis is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs. The bacteria can be transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings, but not everyone exposed to the bacteria will develop the disease.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tuberculosis can remain dormant in a person’s body without causing illness, but may become active disease at any time following infection.

Typical symptoms of active tuberculosis include persistent cough, fever, chills, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.

UMass Boston mandates tuberculosis screening for all students and requires international students from high-risk countries to undergo testing.

Although rare in Massachusetts, there were 153 reported cases of tuberculosis in 2022, with over 90% of cases occurring in individuals born outside the U.S., according to health data.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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