North Dakota May Start Testing Foreign Students for Tuberculosis

North Dakota's universities and colleges could start testing some foreign students for TB by the end of November. The state Health Department is asking the North Dakota University System to implement the policy. New students from all countries, except those classified by US health officials as "low risk for tuberculosis," would be tested.

Karin Mongeon, state Health Department tuberculosis program manager, said North Dakota has several cases of TB each year in its foreign-born students. The Health Department is also requesting the Department of Public Instruction test foreign-born students, Mongeon said.

Dr. Betty Anne Johnson, director of student health services at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, said even though TB is uncommon, many schools and universities across the nation are conducting risk-based testing. "Cases of contagious tuberculosis are rare on college campuses but present special difficulties because TB can spread quickly and silently in these highly congregate settings," she said.

North Dakota State University started testing students this fall from countries at high risk for TB, said George Wallman, vice president of student affairs. The State Higher Education Board plans to vote on the policy at its November meeting.

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