On Thursday, Oct. 31, Elmhurst University and President Troy VanAken confirmed that two students tested positive for tuberculosis.
The two students were placed in isolation and are under medical supervision.
The university assured students and staff in a campus-wide statement that it is working closely with the DuPage County Health Department, offering free on-campus TB testing to prevent further spread.
“We’re talking to experts in the field that are available to us, and even some of our faculty who are experts in this area,” VanAken told the Elmhurst University student newspaper, The Leader. “The institution is taking this seriously. We’re doing everything we know to do, and we’re certainly taking care of these individuals.”
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, tuberculosis is a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease transmitted through the air. While it can affect any part of the body, TB usually affects the lungs.
When first infected with the TB germ, people usually do not feel sick or have any symptoms. However, they may develop active TB disease in the future.
