Sacramento County Division of Public Health has confirmed that an American River College (ARC) student has been diagnosed with active TB. This student is currently isolated and under care. There is no longer a risk to students and staff of exposure at the school.
Letters are being mailed to all students who may have been exposed. Currently, Public Health will only be testing students and staff who shared a classroom with the diagnosed student. Public Health and ARC have scheduled a time to provide screening tests for identified students to detect inactive (latent) TB infection. Screening tests will be held at both the ARC main campus and the Natomas Center satellite campus.
Exposure to a person with active disease must be close and prolonged for others to become infected with this germ. The majority of people who have been infected with tuberculosis do not progress to having active tuberculosis disease and are therefore unable to transmit the germ to others. Both inactive (latent) tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
"Public Health is working closely with school officials to investigate and screen any potential exposures," said Pamela Harris, Public Health Division Manager. "The risk of contraction for students and staff is low."
If students have any concerns or questions, they may call American River College at (916) 484-8383.
For questions concerning Tuberculosis, please call Sacramento County Public Health (916) 875-5881.
