UMass Boston Says 'Person On Campus' Diagnosed With Tuberculosis

BOSTON (CBS) - A "person on campus" at UMass Boston has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, the school said in a statement.

In a memo to the campus community, the university said the unidentified person is "currently receiving treatment, and may have been infected with TB many years before developing active TB infection." A spokesperson would not specify to WBZ-TV whether the person was a student, faculty or staff member.

Most of the campus is not believed to be at risk. But, 59 people had what's described as "close contact" with the infected person. The university said each of them have been notified about what they can do to protect themselves.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tuberculosis bacteria usually attack the lungs, but can also infect the kidney, spine, and brain. However, not everyone infected with the bacteria gets sick.

For more information about tuberculosis, visit the CDC website.