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About 100 People Potentially Exposed To TB, Wake Health Officials Say

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A number of people at a Wake County college may have been exposed to

tuberculosis

, county health officials said Thursday.

About 100 students and teachers at Wake Technical Community College's Health Science campus may have come in contact with a person confirmed to have the disease, Wake County Human Services officials said.

"The students and staff at Wake Tech's Health Sciences campus should not be alarmed," said Wake County Community Health Director Gibbie Harris in a letter to those who may have been affected.

In the letter, Harris said the tuberculosis was not life-threatening, nor was it an emergency.

"TB generally develops over weeks to months and is completely curable with medications," Harris said.

Tuberculosis skin tests will be offered next week, and officials hope to have the results by April 3.

A disease that often affects the lungs, tuberculosis is transmitted when a person with the disease coughs, sneezes or speaks. Symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases and include coughing for more than three weeks, fever, profuse sweating, chest pain and difficulty breathing.

Wake County Human Services will hold an information session on tuberculosis at noon Friday in Room 111 of the Wake Tech Health Sciences Building off of Sunnybrook Road.

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