Contact: Stacey Schmeidel, director of college communications 704/682-2629
Davidson College officials announced today that the Mecklenburg County Health Department has confirmed that a member of the Davidson College community has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease. For privacy reasons, the college is not releasing this person's name or other personal information. The individual is being treated at an area hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Tuberculosis is a highly curable and preventable disease that is spread through the air via repeated exposure to an active carrier's coughing and sneezing. Once diagnosed, tuberculosis can be treated with antibiotics. In this case, the Mecklenburg County Health Department has advised that there is minimal risk of infection to the general campus population. County health officials do not expect that anyone will become ill as a result of this situation.
Davidson College officials have been working closely with the County Health Department to identify anyone who may be at risk of infection in this particular case. College officials are in touch with these individuals; the Health Department will provide testing and will follow up as necessary with appropriate treatment.
The college's medical staff are available to answer questions from Davidson students, faculty and staff. Student Health Center staff are available weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The health of the college community is of primary importance to Davidson, and the college is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy semester for all students, faculty and staff. Additional information about this situation will be posted as needed at www.davidson.edu/newsroom.
For more information about tuberculosis: FAQ prepared by Davidson College medical staff
The Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,800 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
