Public health notice, November 1, 2021
AI-generated · every claim is source-linkedOn November 1, 2021, American University notified students, faculty, staff, and families that a residential undergraduate student had tested positive for tuberculosis. The DC Department of Health led the public-health response, conducting contact tracing and directly notifying community members who needed testing.
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Alert Sequence
2 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim
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How the first alert is built
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Dear American University Community, The DC Department of Health (DC DOH) has informed us that a residential undergraduate student at American University has tested positive for tuberculosis (TB). The student is currently residing off campus to receive treatment. TB is a disease that can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or otherwise releases the bacteria from their lungs or throat. Prolonged close contact in the same airspace is typically required, and it cannot be spread by surfaces, toilets, clothes, food, water, handshakes, or other casual contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The DC DOH is conducting contact tracing and directly notifying any students, faculty, or staff who may need to be tested. The University is working closely with the DC DOH. In keeping with public health protocols, the DC DOH determines who must be notified or tested based on their level of exposure. Please know that methods we have used to protect against COVID-19, in particular the high masking compliance that our community has shown, will also be helpful in protecting against tuberculosis exposure. If you have questions and concerns, please see these Frequently Asked Questions. In addition, a community webinar will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2 to share information and respond to questions. You can learn more about tuberculosis, how it spreads, prevention, and treatment by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The wellbeing of our community is our top priority. We will share updates as needed. Sincerely, Fanta Aw Vice President of Undergraduate Enrollment, Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence David S Reitman, M.D. Medical Director, American University Student Health Center
Sourceabsent0/0
Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.
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Hazardabsent0/0
What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.
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Locationabsent0/0
Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.
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Guidanceabsent0/0
The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.
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Timeabsent0/0
When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.
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Impactabsent0/0
What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.
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Background
Key Findings
Sources
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Campus Alert Archive. "American University: Public health notice, November 1, 2021." Incident of November 1, 2021. Added May 2026; last updated October 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/american-university-tuberculosis-case-2021-11-01/
Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.