October 18, 2007

The Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) are working closely with the staff of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to assure that faculty, staff and students who may have been exposed to a single case of active tuberculosis receive tuberculin skin tests. Approximately 225 people will be offered skin tests.

No additional cases of tuberculosis have been identified at this time. Any person who tests positive but does not have active disease will be offered preventive therapy.

Finding positive tests during initial screening is not unusual. The health department notes that a positive skin test (by itself) is not proof of tuberculosis – that this test is only a screening tool to help identify those persons who may benefit from further evaluation.

Public health officials and UAB are committed to the health and safety of UAB’s employees and students, and will assure that information regarding the risk of exposure is communicated clearly, and that appropriate screening and follow-up steps are taken.”

For more information regarding tuberculosis or the screening activities at UAB, please contact Jim Mangum, Health Service Administrator, JCDH at 205-930-1445. For general information about tuberculosis you can go to:

Q&A:http://www.cdc.gov/tb/faqs/default.htm;
Fact sheets: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/TBfactsheets.htm)