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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Tuberculosis scare at university | Tuberculosis scare at university |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Three people have tested positive for TB after a former student at Manchester Metropolitan University was found to have been infected. | |
| A member of staff also has a probable TB infection. | |
| Eighteen others are said to have a latent infection which is not contagious and has no symptoms. | Eighteen others are said to have a latent infection which is not contagious and has no symptoms. |
| Experts are now trying to trace about 150 more people who may have been in contact with the ex-student. Hundreds of others have already been tested. | Experts are now trying to trace about 150 more people who may have been in contact with the ex-student. Hundreds of others have already been tested. |
| It is not thought any students currently at the University are affected. | It is not thought any students currently at the University are affected. |
| TB is a bacterial infection that most often affects the lungs. | TB is a bacterial infection that most often affects the lungs. |
| Approximately 8,000 cases are recorded in England and Wales every year. | Approximately 8,000 cases are recorded in England and Wales every year. |
| 'Close contact' | 'Close contact' |
| Dr Erika Duffell, a consultant with the Health Protection Agency (HPA), said: "Three people who had particularly close contact with the patient had developed active TB." | Dr Erika Duffell, a consultant with the Health Protection Agency (HPA), said: "Three people who had particularly close contact with the patient had developed active TB." |
| A member of staff is thought likely to have TB, but it is not known if the infection was transmitted by the former student. | A member of staff is thought likely to have TB, but it is not known if the infection was transmitted by the former student. |
| Dr Duffell added: "As a general rule, it is not easy to contract TB as it does not spread easily from person-to-person. | Dr Duffell added: "As a general rule, it is not easy to contract TB as it does not spread easily from person-to-person. |
| "To be at risk, one must usually spend hours in close contact with someone who has active disease, is infectious and has a cough." | "To be at risk, one must usually spend hours in close contact with someone who has active disease, is infectious and has a cough." |
| University spokesman Gareth Holliman said: "We've been identifying members of staff and students who may have been in prolonged close contact with this student. | University spokesman Gareth Holliman said: "We've been identifying members of staff and students who may have been in prolonged close contact with this student. |
| "We've been compiling lists of staff and students and providing those to the health authorities so people can be screened." | "We've been compiling lists of staff and students and providing those to the health authorities so people can be screened." |
| He added: "We've been following the guidance of the HPA without causing panic or unnecessary inconvenience in the whole university community." | He added: "We've been following the guidance of the HPA without causing panic or unnecessary inconvenience in the whole university community." |