UC Davis Takes Swift Action: Contact Tracing Launched Following Identification of Contagious Tuberculosis Case

Out of an abundance of caution and consistent with recommendations from the California Department of Public Health, UC Davis offers the following public health information:

An individual with contagious tuberculosis, or TB, has been identified in the Davis campus community. Working in coordination with the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, university health officials are currently conducting contact-tracing to identify and notify those who have been in close contact with the infected person.

Campus health officials are identifying those who have had at least eight hours of cumulative exposure to the affected individual as close contacts. Close contacts will need evaluation for TB infection. Outside of those the university is contacting directly, the exposure risk to the general community is low.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, tuberculosis can be transmitted when a person with active TB coughs, sneezes or speaks when others are nearby. Symptoms of active (contagious) TB disease may include a cough that lasts three weeks or longer, chest pain or coughing up blood. Other symptoms may include weakness or fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever or sweating at night. Not everyone with TB becomes symptomatic; most people with TB have an inactive infection that is not contagious. TB can be treated and cured.

More information about tuberculosis is available at https://www.cdc.gov/tb/

Symptoms of respiratory illness are common during this time of year. Please wash your hands, wear a mask if you are experiencing respiratory symptoms, and seek medical care if you are feeling ill.