TB positive UTM students referred to HSA, back at varsity

JOHOR BARU: Two Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students found positive for tuberculosis (TB) has been referred to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) and allowed to return to the university to continue their studies.
UTM deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs) Prof Dr Durrishah Idrus said the two female students, both locals, were being monitored by UTM Health Centre, given medical treatment and required to make periodic checks to assess their development.
"To ensure that other students are not infected with the disease, the UTM Health Centre will hold a screening for those in close contact with the patients, especially at the faculty, and roommates.
"At the same time, UTM will take proactive measures by conducting screening on all students to ensure they do not have any infectious diseases," she said in a statement here.
Hence, she said parents of the university students need not have to worry about the situation and advised students suffering from coughs for more than two weeks and fever, especially at night to have a check-up at the UTM Health Centre.
Yesterday Johor Health, Environment, Education and Information Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat had said the state Health Department would conduct a TB screening at UTM next week after two of its female students, aged 20 and 22, were diagnosed with the disease.
The screening would be carried out at a student class and two hostels, namely Kolej Tun Fatimah and Kolej Perdana, he said. — Bernama