Moncton university says student with TB may have been contagious since March

MONCTON – The University of Moncton is reporting a student from its main campus has a confirmed case of tuberculosis.

The student, who has not been identified, assisted with three classes during the school year and also helped with exams, according to information made public by the university.

The university said the student might have been contagious as early mid-March — although it was not publicized at the time — and came in contact with other students and faculty at its Moncton location since then.

Tuberculosis is a potentially fatal infectious disease that attacks the lungs, and is spread through the air, typically when the infected person coughs or sneezes.

The university has notified the province’s public health department, which will call any person who could have come in contact with the infected student. The university says it will email people who cannot be reached by phone.

The school has not disclosed how the student could have contracted the disease, although it said the risk of transmission to other people is very low. It is advising anyone exhibiting symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.

Classic symptoms of tuberculosis include a chronic cough with bloody mucus, fever, night sweats and weight loss.

This is the second case of tuberculosis at the university in less than a year.

In September, a female business student was admitted to a Moncton hospital with a confirmed case of the deadly disease.