FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) - The death of a University of North Alabama graduate student who had been linked to four confirmed or suspected cases of tuberculosis on campus won't affect an investigation by health officials, a doctor says.
UNA officials declined to identify the student, but the TimesDaily reported in a story Sunday that 25-year-old Bikash Agrawal of Nepal is the fifth student in the university's international program to be linked to two confirmed and two suspected cases of tuberculosis at UNA.
Agrawal died Thursday at Huntsville Hospital - a day before he would have received his master's degree in business administration, the newspaper reported.
Health officials have not said, however, that Agrawal's death was a result of TB. Hospital officials declined to comment.
All four students are being treated for the disease with a standard drug protocol, said Dr. Karen Landers, area health officer. She said none remains hospitalized or is contagious.
Landers said Agrawal's case has been linked to the other four cases. His case was determined through communication across public health areas within the state, she said. "We are aware of the situation," she said. "But we are satisfied all appropriate action has been taken, and this death won't affect our investigation."
Although Agrawal had lived in Florence, he was living in Huntsville at the time of his death. He had taken one course on campus at UNA and another through the online degree program. David Shields, UNA vice president for student affairs, said the student had not attended an on-campus class in the past two months.
"As part of its investigation, (the health department) had screened individuals on campus who had had previous contact with the individual in Huntsville," he said. "The tests were negative, and the department determined that no further screening was necessary."
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that often is found in the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body. Most American students are given a TB skin test in childhood.
Last week, UNA President Bill Cale sent a letter to all parents of university students as part of an ongoing effort to squelch any rumors about the situation as well as answer lingering questions about the possibility of other cases.
The university also set up a telephone hotline to serve a similar purpose.
Because of the TB outbreak, Shields said the university has created a policy that would require all students, domestic and international, to have certain immunizations before coming to campus.
Shields said the policy, which is under review with Cale, should take effect Jan. 1.
"We have been planning to add services and protocols in the health services area," he said. "We just never expected to have to do so this quickly."
