Questions and Answers
Updated Feb. 23, 2012, 9:00 a.m.
Does Emory recommend testing of all persons on the Druid Hills campus?
No. That is not recommended based on the facts of this case. We are working to identify persons who had substantial contact with the infected employee and we will contact them directly. The notification and testing of the persons who had substantial contact with the employee have already begun. The contact investigation will follow a concentric circles approach recommended by the CDC here. Emory epidemiologists are proceeding in consultation with state and local public health departments.
How will Emory determine who needs to be tested?
Transmission of TB requires substantial contact with the infected individual. Healthcare providers from Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Injury Management in coordination with Emory Campus Services are working together to identify those individuals who had substantial contact with the employee between Aug. 2, 2011 and Feb. 2, 2012, which is the time period during which the employee is believed to have been contagious.
How long will the testing go on?
Initial testing will be performed over the next week.
How do you define substantial contact?
Health authorities are identifying individuals who are known to have had regular contact with the individual during the period that he is believed to have been contagious.
What buildings did the employee work in?
For the last six months, the employee worked primarily in the following buildings:
- Candler School of Theology
- Woodruff Library
- Anthropology
- Rich Building
- Candler Library
- Tarbutton Hall
- Bowden Hall
- University Administration
- Modern Languages
After mid-November 2011, the employee was working on the night shift, at times when he was far less likely to have close contact with other Emory employees and students.
Are Emory University employees routinely screened for TB?
Current university policy, in accordance with current U.S. Public Health Service recommendations, is only to screen employees of Emory Healthcare for TB as healthcare workers are considered a high risk group.
Why are Emory University employees treated differently than healthcare employees?
Current national public health policies focus on TB screening only for those in high risk populations. Non- healthcare employees of the university are not considered to be in a high risk population.
Do students have to be screened for TB? If so, which students and under what circumstances?
Emory follows current CDC recommendations for tuberculosis screening of students. Required tuberculosis screening is focused upon two student groups: (1) International students who come from countries where TB is common/endemic and (2) Health science students (including Schools of Medicine and Nursing) where there is a possibility of student TB exposure while caring for patients in a clinical setting. Many undergraduates also get TB tested when volunteering in healthcare settings or before or after international educational travel.
Will Emory offer free tests to anyone who requests them?
There is no medical reason, based on this case, for most members of the general community to be tested. If someone feels strongly that they should be tested, they should discuss their situation with Occupational Injury Management, Student Health Services, their local health department, or their personal healthcare provider.
Where can we get more information on testing?
Those seeking testing can contact their local health department or the following Emory University offices:
- Emory University Student Health and Counseling Services
1525 Clifton Road, Second Floor
Hours: M-F 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Saturday Urgent Care clinic 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
404.727.7551 - Office of Occupational Injury Management (EUH)
64 Clifton Road, NE (EUH: H-wing, subbasement, Room HB53)
404.686.8587
Where can Emory staff and faculty members receive counseling and support?
- Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP)
Emory Wellness Center
1762 Clifton Rd., NE, Suite 1100
Atlanta, GA 30322
404.727.4328
404.727.7500 (fax)
www.fsap.emory.edu
Did this person ride MARTA/Cliff Shuttle and do I need to be concerned if I am a transit user?
It is difficult to comprehensively characterize every detail about this person's daily activities. However, generally speaking, with regard to mass transit, our infectious disease experts regard the overall risk as low. For instance, the only medically documented cases of TB transmission on airliners have occurred in persons with close exposure to a person with active TB on flights of more than 8 hours' duration. See World Health Organization guidelines for TB contact tracing for airline passengers here. If you feel you have reasons to be concerned about your situation, we would encourage you to discuss your questions with your personal physician, your county health department, or one of the university offices named in the community letter.