KKTV Online Poll
Are you a registered voter?

Yes
No
No, but I'd like to find out how to register


For all the information you need to register to vote in your county, CLICK HERE
CSU-Pueblo Student Dies From Tuberculosis Save Email Print
Reporter: KKTV

A | A | A

The State Health Department has confirmed a death at Memorial Hospital Friday was caused by tuberculosis.

The woman was an international, CSU-Pueblo student who recently moved to the Springs. The El Paso County Coroner confirmed to KKTV that Kalpana Dangol, 19, died of TB.

According to the State Health Department, it is unlikely she died from a drug-resistant strain of TB.

According to them, this is not an outbreak of TB, and they are contacting the appropriate people who may have been in contact with her.

There are about 120 cases of TB in Colorado each year.

The news comes just two weeks after Atlanta lawyer Andrew Speaker created a global health scare after traveling with the disease. Speaker is currently being treated at Denver's National Jewish hospital.

For a more information about TB, including how it is spread and treated, visit the Centers for Disease Control’s Web site.

If CSU-Pueblo parents or students have any questions, they have been asked to call the Health Department Helpline at (877) 462-2911.

Related Stories
Andrew Speaker Testifies, Could Leave Isolation

TB Traveler Hopes For Forgiveness

TB Patient Gets Good News Regarding Condition

Suspicious Death at Memorial Hospital

Suspicious Death Hospital Investigation

More Stories
Boy Dies After Being Left In Hot Car

Mother & Daughter Busted For Allegedly Selling Cocaine

Iraqi PM Says U.S. Should Leave Soon As Possible

Teen Sentenced For Murder Of Football Star

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Reetu Location: New Mexico on Jun 17, 2007 at 08:00 AM
My deep condolences to Kalpan's little sister Manju and her family. May god help them the power to deal with this saddest moment.

Posted by: Steve Location: Pueblo on Jun 13, 2007 at 05:31 PM
Thank you KKTV for correcting the photograph. This is now the correct person. I also would like to thank those people responding with positive comments. I have spent a significant amount time with a large number of the students from Nepal over the last 2 years including Kalpana. I have also spent time with numerous students from other countries as well. I would like to say that these international students at CSU-Pueblo are among the finest people that I have ever known and that they are an enormous credit to their school, to the community as a whole, and to their home countries. I consider it a privilege to count them as my friends. I have just been tested for TB and the results were all clear, but even if they had not been so, I would still have no regrets for the time I spent with these students.

Posted by: Friend Location: Pueblo on Jun 12, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Kalpana's untimely death is indeed tragic. She was a friend to many and as mentioned was in the U.S. legally and met all medical requirements to attend school in this country. Unfortunately, prior medical visits did not provide proper diagnosis so that this young lady could have been treated. Our prayers go out to her family and friends.

Posted by: Sheila Location: Colorado Springs on Jun 12, 2007 at 08:41 PM
Foreign students are not allowed into this country until they are medically cleared, so they are tested and that includes a TB test and lung x-ray. You cannot get a student visa without a medical examination by a doctor approved by the American Embassy. At the time she came here this woman probably did not have active TB, so it went undetected. You can have latent TB for years and not be infectious whatsoever until it becomes active and even so it is communicated only through close and prolonged contact. Get the facts and stop panicking everyone.

Posted by: chanda Location: Bridgeport on Jun 12, 2007 at 02:42 PM
the girl is from my country Nepal. and also last semester i was in CSU. i know her and she was a nice lady. i was shocked when i heared about her. i pray for her family.

Posted by: Dee Location: school/work on Jun 12, 2007 at 11:53 AM
TB is treatable...so why wasn't Kalpana?

Posted by: Alejandro Location: Colorado Springs on Jun 12, 2007 at 07:05 AM
Ok, Chris Gallegos, were you tested for an infectious disease when you applied for the school? More than likely not. You could be carrying something and passing it out to everyone around you. This is America and the best country in the world, even with all its faults. Get over yourself and think about how her family is feeling right now. Don't worry you are able to get the health care may need. Do some research about what you are talking about first. and Adam, what does it matter what country she came from anyway? What will change with you having that knowledge? Lets pray for this girl and her family. Lets remember her life and the impact she has made.

Posted by: jennifer Location: pueblo on Jun 11, 2007 at 11:48 PM
I am sad for her family and friends loss. Yet I have children and one has a weak immune system. This is to close to home and I fear for others safety. We have to look at the bigger picture. That is that we have these students from around the world and that they should be tested extensively before they are able to come here. We need solutions with actions not just words. I am also appauled by the school not releasing this info to the students. I also understand someone knew she had it and said nothing to the school, unsure how that was. I would like to know.

Posted by: Steve Location: Pueblo on Jun 11, 2007 at 10:33 PM
The picture shown in this article is a different person. I personally know both the girl that died and the girl in this photo and they are NOT the same person. The person that died is Kalpana Dangol, the person in the picture is Anna Dangol. Someone at KKTV needs to recheck your sources. I would also like to address the comment posted by "adam". Immigration control on these international students is very tight and they have complied with all U.S.A. immigration requirements. It is now public knowledge that Kalpana is from Nepal. Her death is an extremely sad event and has seriously impacted the lives of hundreds of her friends not only in Colorado but in many other states as well as Nepal who are in shock and mourning. We all need to pray for Kalpana's family and friends.

Posted by: Chris Gallegos Location: Pueblo on Jun 11, 2007 at 09:37 PM
I attend CSU-P and for all I know I may have very well came into contact with this girl. And for some reason the University has not deemed it pertinent to notify us about her classes. Is there any logic to this. I cannot believe the audacity of the University that us as students had to find out this information from KKTV. Even at this point our safety has not been taken into consideration. This is not to mention the fact that this student was even allowed into this university without proper testing. This boggles my mind knowing damn well there is more than a possiblity of spreading diseases and even then the university has not implemented standard testing. And you call this America???????????

Posted by: Ram Location: Indiana on Jun 11, 2007 at 07:41 PM
This is a family tragedy of epic proportions. If one can imagine sending your teenager to a foreign country to study with hopes of dreams of an entire clan for a better future, not be able to see that child for a year and a half due to financial contstraints, and one day hear from a distant voice that your child is dead. To those who are more apt to ignorance, fear, and xenophobia, please consider what the parents who are still in a foreign country awaiting the remains of their child to whom they said farewell a year and a half ago, wishing her all the success in the world, must be going through right now. I would ask for thoughtful prayers, and some empathy for the untimely departure of this brave, young and ambitious lady and loss and grief of her family.

Posted by: Gasele Location: NewJersey on Jun 11, 2007 at 05:19 PM
Im sad.it feels like tears are coming on.why does it have to be someone that is only 19.

Posted by: Rashanda Location: Flordia on Jun 11, 2007 at 05:16 PM
i think that this is such of a sad shock.that girl is beautiful its heartbreaking.

Posted by: Nichole Location: Pueblo on Jun 11, 2007 at 05:00 PM
I attend CSU-P and frankly i'm pissed about the entire thing. It's very sad that she died from such a horrible disease, but i wonder if she had been checked for it or even took precautions to prevent the possible spread. I have so many mixed emotions about the whole thing!

Posted by: NICOLE HEDGLIN Location: Las Animas co on Jun 11, 2007 at 04:12 PM
i feel sorry for that girl :(

Posted by: adam on Jun 11, 2007 at 02:35 PM
i wonder why the article does not mention nationality or country of origin???? isnt this why immigration control is important? to manage disease and crime entering the country?

Posted by: beth Location: work on Jun 11, 2007 at 01:58 PM
okay so why are we cutting the programs and funding for this stuff? maybe we could skip building a park or something to come up with the money....

More News
Coroner: Man Was Stabbed On Chest And Back

Last Updated: 2:38 PM 07/18/08 - The coroner's office says a man stabbed to death outside of a Denver bar after an argument had wounds on his chest and back. (Full Story)
Greeley Man Sentenced For Tampering With Gas Wells

Last Updated: 9:53 AM 07/18/08 - A Greeley man is being ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution for tampering with natural gas wells to inflate his profits. (Full Story)
Safeway 2Q Profit Rises, Edging Past Analyst View

Last Updated: 9:14 AM 07/17/08 - Safeway operates more than 1,700 stores in the U.S. and Canada, including at least 120 in Colorado. (Full Story)
June Fire In Northern California Intentionally Set

Last Updated: 7:55 AM 07/17/08 - Arson investigators say a wildfire that destroyed more than 80 homes in and around the California town of Paradise last month was intentionally set. (Full Story)
More Headlines