| Initiating body: | Student Health Services |
|---|---|
| Contact: | Director of Student Health 438-6855 |
| Revised on: | 01/2002 |
NOTE: The Mantoux skin test is used when identifying persons with infection regardless of whether BCG vaccine was received in the past. (The Control of Tuberculosis, Rules and Regulations, June 1998, Illinois Department of Public Health, p. 30)
The Student Health Service (SHS) staff will provide screening for all persons identified in section I - Groups to be screened for TB.
Persons with a positive TB skin test will be required to have further screening, including the probability of a chest x-ray. Prophylactic medication and follow-up may also be required as determined by the ISU Student Health Service medical staff or the McLean County Health Department.
Students will be scheduled for appointments at the Student Health Service prior to the start of each semester's first day of classes (or within 10 days of their arrival on campus).
An appointment at the SHS for TB screening (and immunization review) must be completed within 10 days of arrival on the ISU campus. Students who do not meet this requirement, or subsequent screening measures if necessary, or the prescribed treatment regimes:
Role of Student Health Services
Both offices will periodically:
Today's global economy forces the United Stated to be actively involved in the problems of other nations including the spread or containment of communicable diseases. This is particularly true with tuberculosis (TB). TB is an airborne disease that is spread much like the common cold or flu - the spread of which is not contained by the borders of any country. The percentage of TB cases among foreign-born in the U.S. has reached almost 40% of the national total. As the percentage of reported TB cases among foreign-born persons continues to increase, the elimination of TB in the United Stated will depend increasingly on the elimination of TB among foreign-born persons. If the current U.S. trends continue through the next decade over half of TB cases are likely to occur among foreign-born.
Over the last decade the causative agent of TB has evolved into a drug-resistant form. This makes the control and/or eradication of TB even more challenging. Multi-drug resistance is growing in countries with poor screening and treatment programs which could result, for the first time in 40 years, of worldwide incurable TB.
For over twenty years the University has required proof of freedom from tubercular disease for international students before final admission status could be conferred and immigration papers released. This has created some problems for International Admissions and the Student Health Service (SHS). International Admissions does not have the medical background to interpret skin test or chest x-ray information and has to wait until copies are sent to the SHS for interpretation. Frequently, further information has to be requested from the applicant resulting in delay in final admission. Based on the way some medical information is submitted, the SHS also has had difficulty interpreting whether or not an applicant is free of TB.
As a result of several meetings by representatives from the SHS, International Studies, and International Admissions the following is proposed in the attached policy:
The above changes will facilitate admission of international students. Currently the Illinois State University Office of Admissions and Office of International Studies spend considerable time and money working with applicants to complete admissions applications that are short of only of the TB verification form. Also the type of TB test that we require is frequently not used in other countries. This change would increase the quality of the TB screening while reducing the difficulty of gaining admission to ISU.
