Health officials investigating tuberculosis outbreak connected to MSU
MANKATO, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of tuberculosis among people associated with Minnesota State University-Mankato.
The outbreak is believed to have started with an international student at MSU. So far, eight people have been diagnosed with active TB and were infectious at one point, according to MDH. More than 700 people who may have had close or prolonged contact with one of the infected people have been contacted.
Of those 700 people, health officials said 30 of them developed latent TB, meaning they are not infectious. They were given treatment so they do not develop the disease and become infectious.
The investigation is focused on MSU students or people who had close contact with certain MSU students. Health officials say the risk of TB spreading to the general public is low.
MDH is assisting Blue Earth County Public Health in investigating the outbreak.