Tag: tuberculosis

Saturday, March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day – let’s make history, and #EndTB

On By idhwmediaIn Public HealthLeave a comment

WorldTBDay

(Left to right) IDHW Tuberculosis Program Manager Scott Hutton, Dr. Christine Hahn and Dr. Marcia Witte of the Division of Public Health prepare a display in IDHW’s Central Office to recognize World Tuberculosis Day on Saturday, March 24, 2018.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s ​Tuberculosis Program staff helped promote World TB Day 2018 this week with a display illustrating the lengthy treatment regimen using candy to illustrate the amount of medicine used to treat the disease.  Continue reading “Saturday, March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day – let’s make history, and #EndTB” →

Refugees with active TB were not contagious

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health1 Comment

A recent news story reports that Idaho has resettled seven refugees with active tuberculosis (TB) between 2011 and 2015. While that is accurate, it’s important to note that those refugees were not infectious and could not spread the tuberculosis infection to other people.

They all had abnormal chest X-rays, which is typically how they are screened for TB in other countries, but they tested negative for contagious disease in three separate sputum cultures after they arrived in Idaho. Even so, they all received immediate treatment and were monitored by public health officials to make sure any TB would be killed that their lungs might harbor.  Continue reading “Refugees with active TB were not contagious” →