Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
We are writing to inform you that a Capitol Campus community member has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. The individual is currently receiving treatment and doing well, and we are providing support and resources.
We are working closely with the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC Health), which is leading the public health response including contact tracing, as well as with Georgetown’s infectious disease experts. DC Health determines who must be notified or tested based on their level of potential exposure and will directly notify any community members who may need to be tested. For those individuals, testing will be available at the Student Health Center for students, or for faculty and staff through One Medical or their health care provider. DC Health will also have additional testing options available for community members identified as close contacts.
Tuberculosis Facts
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that is typically spread through the air when an infected person coughs or speaks, for example. People with active TB disease are most likely to spread TB germs to people they spend time with every day, and not to people with whom they have brief contact.
- TB cannot be spread by touching surfaces, handshakes, or other casual contact.
- There are medications available to treat and prevent active TB.
- Additional information about TB is available on the CDC website as well as DC Health’s TB information page.
DC Health will lead a virtual information session on Tuesday, November 26, at 3 p.m. Please complete this registration form if you would like to attend.
If you have questions regarding your personal health, please contact the Student Health Center, if a student, or your health care provider, if a faculty or staff member.
We are committed to protecting the health and safety of the Georgetown community. We will provide updates as needed.
Sincerely,
Michala Koch
Acting Chief Public Health Officer
Seble Kassaye, M.D.
Acting Chief Medical Advisor