Author: Kailee Curtis

Local Health Department

Tuberculosis Control

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is transmitted (spread) through the air from one person to another. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. Michigan local health departments work with a variety of health care and laboratory partners to control the spread of TB through testing, treatment, prevention, control, and education.

Key Positions
Public Health Nurses
Clinic Support Staff
Public Health Physicians

252 cases of
active and latent tuberculosis were reported in Michigan during 2017.

Meets Public Health Standards:

ü	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
ü	Public Health Accreditation Board

Services:
Local health departments are the primary local agency responsible for preventing and controlling TB. However, TB control is a complex undertaking and requires the collaborative efforts of a broad range of persons, organizations, and institutions inside and outside the public health sector. The essential roles of local health departments are to plan, coordinate, and evaluate TB control and prevention efforts. To fulfill these roles, local health departments may engage in and provide oversight on TB planning and policy development, contact investigations, clinical and diagnostic services for TB patients and their contacts, training and education, surveillance, data management, and monitoring and evaluation.

Funding Sources for Michigan Local Health Department
TB Screening Programs (n = 41 Local Health Departments*)

35

30

25

20

Number of Departments

15

Local appropriations

10

5

State grants

0

Medicaid

Fees

Private insurance

Medicare

Donations

Goals:
Local health department TB control programs prevent and control the spread of TB by:
Identifying cases through testing and reporting
Treating active cases through directly observed therapy
Recommending and instituting infection control measures
Providing education to patients, health care providers, and the community
Ensuring timely reporting of cases to the state health department

Funding Sources (can be multiple)

Federal grants

Millage

Impact:
Local health departments may have to monitor each active TB patient for 6 to 12 months to ensure their TB disease is cured.

Other grants

Other

Created by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department for the Michigan Association of Local Public Health with funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. August 2018.
*41 out of 45 of Michigan’s local public health departments participated in the survey at least partially. Participants might not have answered each question.