{
  "id": "2024-10-31-elmhurst-university-tuberculosis-outbreak",
  "slug": "elmhurst-university-tuberculosis-outbreak-2024-10-31",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Elmhurst University",
    "shortName": "Elmhurst",
    "state": "IL",
    "type": "private-masters",
    "alertSystemName": "Elmhurst University Emergency Notification",
    "enrollment": 3300
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-10-31",
    "type": "public-health",
    "cleryCategory": "advisory",
    "headline": "Public health notice, October 31, 2024",
    "summary": "On Halloween night, October 31, 2024, [Elmhurst University President Troy VanAken notified](https://abc7chicago.com/post/case-tuberculosis-confirmed-elmhurst-university-2-others-suspected-school-offering-free-tb-tests-week/15509533/) students and staff that students had tested positive for tuberculosis. The school worked with the [DuPage County Health Department](https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2024/11/02/tuberculosis-outbreak-reported-elmhurst-university-health-infectious-disease-suburban-chicago) to identify and contact close contacts and offered free TB testing on campus all week.",
    "outcome": "Two students were ultimately confirmed with TB. Close contacts were provided free testing while the county health department conducted contact tracing; the university posted ongoing TB information and resources for the community.",
    "resolution": "confirmed-threat"
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Halloween night, October 31, 2024",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "To the campus community,\n\nToday the University received confirmation that two students have tested positive for tuberculosis, or TB. These students have been isolated and are currently under medical supervision. HIPAA and FERPA regulations prevent us from disclosing further information about the students.\n\nYour health and safety are of the utmost importance. We have been in contact with infectious disease specialists at the DuPage County Health Department, who have initiated a contact investigation. We are making arrangements with the health department for free testing to be available on campus and are working to schedule information sessions to answer any questions you may have. We will provide more details as soon as they become available.\n\nMeanwhile, it's important that we educate ourselves, and learn what TB is and isn't. You can learn more about TB on the CDC website and in the attachment. We want you to understand that while this is a potentially serious disease, it also is preventable and treatable.\n\nIn my almost nine years at Elmhurst, it's been my privilege to see how this community has responded to different challenges we've faced. Because this situation is unfamiliar to most of us, it's especially important that we be thoughtful and show care, grace and consideration during this time.\n\nBest,\nTroy",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.elmhurst.edu/tbinfo/",
      "sourceDescription": "Elmhurst University TB Info: Campus Message from President VanAken 10/31/24",
      "annotations": [
        "Full official presidential campus email reproduced on elmhurst.edu/tbinfo.",
        "Sending a TB notice on Halloween night underscored the urgency; the message was issued by the university president rather than a health office.",
        "Message states two students confirmed positive (matching later FOX 32 reporting)."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1328
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "On or about November 1, 2024",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "To our campus community,\n\nAs you know, we have been working closely with the DuPage County Health Department, which has been guiding our response to the tuberculosis cases associated with our campus.\n\nWith their assistance, we have already reached out to those who may have been in close contact with the affected individuals.\n\nThe health department has emphasized that casual contact is generally not sufficient for transmission of TB bacteria—it is transmitted through prolonged, close contact with someone who has infectious tuberculosis.\n\nFree testing by the health department is being made available to those who were identified as potentially close contacts. If you have not received a letter but feel compelled to be tested, please visit this page.\n\nIf you would like to learn more about TB and its symptoms, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website.\n\nBest,\nTroy",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.elmhurst.edu/tbinfo/",
      "sourceDescription": "Elmhurst University TB Info: Campus Message from President VanAken 11/1/24",
      "annotations": [
        "Full official presidential campus email reproduced on elmhurst.edu/tbinfo.",
        "Emphasizes active-versus-latent distinction and county-led contact tracing.",
        "Pointing to a standing elmhurst.edu/tbinfo resource page shows the university building a durable information hub."
      ],
      "characterCount": 890
    }
  ],
  "context": "Tuberculosis on a small residential campus poses distinct contact-tracing challenges because students share classrooms, dining, and housing densely. On Halloween night 2024, [Elmhurst University](https://abc7chicago.com/post/case-tuberculosis-confirmed-elmhurst-university-2-others-suspected-school-offering-free-tb-tests-week/15509533/) President Troy VanAken alerted the community to a confirmed TB case with additional cases under evaluation; the [Chicago Sun-Times](https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2024/11/02/tuberculosis-outbreak-reported-elmhurst-university-health-infectious-disease-suburban-chicago) reported that the school partnered with the DuPage County Health Department on contact tracing and free testing. [FOX 32 Chicago](https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/elmhurst-university-2-students-tuberculosis) later confirmed two students with TB. The university built a standing [TB info page](https://www.elmhurst.edu/tbinfo/) to centralize guidance. The case is a useful counterpart to the same-month Georgetown TB notice, showing how a small private university and a large research university handled the same disease with the same proportionate, county-led playbook.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "The notice came directly from the university president on Halloween night, signaling urgency at a small residential campus",
    "Two students were confirmed with TB; the DuPage County Health Department traced the first case to October 17, 2024, and accounts differ on whether the Halloween-night email described one confirmed case with others under evaluation (ABC7) or two confirmed students (The Leader, Patch)",
    "Free on-campus testing was offered to identified close contacts, converting the alert into immediate logistics",
    "Messaging stressed the active-versus-latent distinction to counter the misconception that any exposure means infection"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Case of tuberculosis confirmed at Elmhurst University; school offering free TB tests - ABC7 Chicago",
      "url": "https://abc7chicago.com/post/case-tuberculosis-confirmed-elmhurst-university-2-others-suspected-school-offering-free-tb-tests-week/15509533/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Tuberculosis outbreak reported at Elmhurst University - Chicago Sun-Times",
      "url": "https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2024/11/02/tuberculosis-outbreak-reported-elmhurst-university-health-infectious-disease-suburban-chicago",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Elmhurst University confirms 2 students with tuberculosis - FOX 32 Chicago",
      "url": "https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/elmhurst-university-2-students-tuberculosis",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "TB Info and Resources - Elmhurst University",
      "url": "https://www.elmhurst.edu/tbinfo/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "tuberculosis",
    "public-health",
    "contact-tracing",
    "illinois",
    "small-college",
    "advisory"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-28",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-17",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}