The Alabama Department of Health told Tuskegee University officials Friday it plans to investigate a case of pulmonary tuberculosis identified in a student enrolled on campus, the agency announced.

The department and the university said they are working to make sure students and employees “will be screened quickly.”

“We are working very closely with the university to develop and implement a screening plan. As with any identified case of TB in Alabama, ADPH will implement precautionary testing, investigation and control measures,” said Dr. Burnestine Taylor, ADPH’s medical officer for disease control and prevention.

On Friday, the agency and university officials began identifying students enrolled in classes with the affected student as well as faculty and staff who may have had close contact with them.

Those deemed as having close contact with the student “will be rapidly assessed and [have] appropriate preventive measures taken,” according to ADPH officials. According to public health officials, “close contact” is defined generally as having spent “an extended amount of time with the subject in a physically close environment.”

Only the students’ close contacts need to be tested, the agency recommended.

Tuberculosis is a treatable but potentially serious disease that mainly affects the lungs. It can be spread by coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include chest pain, chronic coughing, coughing with blood, chills, fever and loss of appetite.