Tuberculosis suspicion on Miami campus

A recent case of tuberculosis has been suspected on campus. The medical director of Student Health Service, Greg Calkins, confirmed this suspicion.

Although the necessary precautions and treatments are being taken as if the case is actually tuberculosis, the Student Health Center will not release the name of the individual who may have the contagious disease. Instead, it and the Butler County Health Department are working together to contact the people who may be at risk of contracting the disease. These people would include those who have daily contact with the student for a long period of time.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease, usually of the lungs, that spreads through the bloodstream.  Symptoms often go unnoticed for a period of time until the bacteria becomes active. However, a weakened immune system can allow the disease to become active, then capable of causing loss of organ tissue as well as death if the disease goes untreated.

TB is a contagious disease that transmits through the air. In the 1950s, it was widespread until the development of beneficial antibiotics. Nevertheless, today there are more potent forms of the disease that are resistant to a multitude of drugs. Therefore any form of tuberculosis, whether it is in an active or latent (noncontagious) state, should receive immediate medical treatment.

But the Medical Center remains quiet on what student is suspected to have the disease.

According to the Miami University Student Health Center’s Notice of Privacy Practices, “Generally, the Covered Entity my not use or disclose your protected health information without your permission.” It may only disclose your health information, “in order to provide you with services and the treatment you require or request, or to collect payment for those covered services that you may receive…”

The director supports the medical center’s decision.

“That would involve a lot of people that wouldn’t need to be alarmed and it might jeopardize privacy unnecessarily,” said Calkins.

Freshman Taylor Johnson feels as if the school should be releasing the name of the infected individual, “I see how that student wouldn’t want to be looked down upon by the student community, but I feel like it’s putting the rest of us at risk. They shouldn’t be at school at all.”