INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstructionReconstructed from 10News ABC and San Diego County News Center reporting on the December 2018 TB exposure notice774 chars
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is working with MiraCosta College to notify students who may have been exposed to tuberculosis (TB) at the MiraCosta College Community Learning Center, 1831 Mission Ave, Oceanside. The period of possible exposure was August 20, 2018 through November 15, 2018. No-cost TB testing for identified students will be offered on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Learning Center campus. Symptoms of active tuberculosis include persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss. Most people who are exposed do not become infected, and those who are can prevent disease by taking medication. Faculty and staff should contact their occupational health program for testing.
This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.
The nearly four-month exposure window (August 20 to November 15) is characteristic of TB notification timelines -- active TB is often not diagnosed for weeks to months after onset, delaying contact tracing.
Holding the testing clinic on-site at the Community Learning Center, not at a county health office, is an evidence-based strategy to maximize uptake among community college students who may face transportation barriers.
This was one of two simultaneous but unrelated TB exposure announcements at San Diego-area community colleges that week; MiraCosta's was announced alongside a separate case at San Diego City College.