Metro State University Students, Staff May Have Been Exposed To Tuberculosis

DENVER (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned approximately 100 students, faculty and staff may have recently been exposed to someone sick with tuberculosis at Metro State University.

CBS4's Kelly Werthmann met a student who says he was required to get tested on Tuesday and says it was a bit unnerving.

Denver Public Health says they were notified about the person with tuberculosis last week. Once they identified who that person may have been in contact with they went to the university to do mandatory testing.

Instead of his usual professor, the Metro State student, who asked to remain anonymous, was greeted by three medical professionals when he walked into class.

"Definitely kind of heart racing," he said. "They ended up giving us about a 30-minute brief discussion learning about tuberculosis and how there might have been a mild scare."

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease caused by germs that are spread between people through the air, usually affecting a person's lungs. It can be deadly if not properly treated.

"It was kind of a startle, to say the least, of, 'Is this really happening right now?' " the student said.

To get infected with the disease a person must have prolonged contact with a person who has TB. Yet most who are exposed are not infected.

Due to health privacy laws, Denver Public Health cannot name the patient in the case, but says the person was not on Metro State's campus between the time health officials were notified last week and when testing began.

"I want whoever it is to be anonymous, but I want to know, was I around this person? How nervous should I be?"

Denver Public Health says they do not believe there is an on-going risk of exposure.

Test results will take about two to three days. If anyone tests positive for TB they'll undergo further evaluation and treatment.