DuPage County health officials are investigating cases of tuberculosis reported this week in Elmhurst University students.
Troy VanAken, president of Elmhurst University, said in a statement that two students tested positive for the infectious disease on Thursday. They were isolated and placed under medical supervision.
The school and the DuPage County Health Department said they are working to identify and contact people who may have been in close contact with the two infected students. Free testing is being conducted for those who have been in close contact.
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a potentially life-threatening disease that is transmitted through the air when a person with active TB coughs or talks. The disease can affect any part of the body, but is usually known to affect the lungs.
Symptoms of TB include cough, fever, fatigue, sweating and unexplained weight loss, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Not all cases show symptoms.
Doctors can prescribe different medications to treat tuberculosis.
“During my nearly nine years in Elmhurst, it has been a joy to see how this community has responded to the various challenges we have faced,” VanAken said in a statement. “Since this is an unfamiliar situation for most of us, it is especially important that we be thoughtful and show care, grace and consideration during this time.”
