Russ Meschek was one of 300 people flocking to Kesnar Hall Tuesday afternoon for a free tuberculosis test after an SIUC student recently was found to be carrying an active case of the disease.

Thanasis Topouzis, a member of the SIUC men’s basketball team from Kontariotissa, Greece, has been quarantined in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale for little more than a week after health officials discovered his active form of TB. Doctors at Health Services said Topouzis had been contagious since the end of December.

Meschek lives in Abbott Hall, the same hall as Topouzis, and was among 700 people shocked by notification from SIUC Health Services of possible exposure to the contagious disease. Meschek received a letter strongly advising him to get tested, and all Abbott Hall residents were informed of Topouzis condition during a mandatory meeting after the official notification.

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Meschek, who did not know Topouzis, said most of his neighbors had varying reactions to the news.

Everyone is freaking out, said Meschek, a junior in biological science from Winthrop Harbor. Everyone either seems concerned while others are just laughing it off.

About 300 people or more are expected to be tested from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Kesnar Hall during the second day of free TB testing for students and staff who have had 200 hours of shared air contact with Topouzis.

Tuberculosis is potentially fatal. If an infected person coughs or sneezes, a person can catch the disease. Chronic coughing, fever, night sweats and weight loss are some of the symptoms of the disease, which is detected by skin tests.

Students and staff who received letters or phone calls are not required to get tested, but anyone who has been in contact with Topouzis is encouraged to visit Kesnar Hall.

Results from the tests will be ready 48 to 72 hours afterward. If any tests return positive, more tests will be taken to find out if the TB is active. SIUC Health Services will conduct additional tests March 24 and 25 for those who are unable to get tested this week.

The last reported active case of TB reported on campus was 16 years ago. About two to three cases are reported in Jackson County each year.

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Because of his job at the SIU Arena requiring contact with Saluki basketball players, Eric Nelson, a senior in English from Rochelle, also received notification to get tested.

He is anxiously awaiting his test results.

There can be same serious implications from TB, he said. I really hope that I don’t have it.