November 5, 2021

Dear American University Community,

We wanted to provide an update on the contact tracing process that the DC Department of Health (DC DOH) is conducting after a positive case of active tuberculosis (TB) was confirmed earlier this week. 

DOH is directly notifying students, faculty, or staff by email who may need to be tested. If you are determined to be a close contact, you will be notified and/or tested based on your level of exposure. The email, which will come from @dc.gov, will be an encrypted message from DOH which you will need to sign into for access.

Earlier this week, a community forum was held on the case with medical professionals from DOH, along with AU leadership. You may view the webinar at your convenience. 

Please know that we are here to support any community member who may be affected by this process. The AU Student Health Center is available for visits and consultations regarding any health-related concerns. If you do receive a contact tracing letter from DOH, we encourage you to reach out to DC Health directly with any questions you may have.

You can learn more about tuberculosis, how it spreads, prevention, and treatment by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  and the CDC’s Questions and Answers about TB. Additional information is also available in AU’s Frequently Asked Questions page.

The wellbeing of our community remains our top priority. We will continue to share updates as needed.

Sincerely,

Fanta Aw 
Vice President of Undergraduate Enrollment, Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence

David S Reitman, M.D.
Medical Director, American University Student Health Center