Tuberculosis Elimination Program - Public Health Region 11
Vision
A Public Health Region 11 that is free of tuberculosis (TB).
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Tuberculosis Program is to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) as a public threat by utilizing prevention to mitigate the spread of (TB) in Public Health Region 11 through clinical management of persons with suspected or confirmed TB, identification, screening, and treatment of people who are contacts to cases of TB, and education about TB.
Activities
- TB surveillance activities
- TB education
- TB Case Management of patients with disease and infection
- Medical and Nursing Consultation
- Treatment, Treatment Adherence, treatment monitoring
- Evaluation of patients exposed to TB disease
- Correctional TB Program
- TB Surveillance
- Drug Resistance TB Monitoring and Treatment
- “Grupos Sin Fronteras” Binational TB Program
What Is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an air-borne disease that can be spread when someone who is infectious coughs, sneezes, laughs or sings. Tuberculosis usually affects the lungs but can present in almost any part of the body and is then referred to as an extra-pulmonary disease. Close contacts can become infected, but it usually requires prolonged exposure from six to eight hours/day for a period of four to six weeks. Other factors like poor air circulation or lack of fresh air allow the bacteria to collect in greater concentrations thus increasing the chance of infection.
What Are the Symptoms of TB?
General symptoms may include feeling weak or sick, weight loss, fever, and/or night sweats. Symptoms of TB of the lungs may include cough, chest pain, and/or coughing up blood. Other symptoms depend on the particular part of the body that is affected.
Who Gets TB?
Anyone can get TB, but some people are at higher risk. Those at higher risk include:
- People who share the same breathing space (such as family members, friends, co-workers) with someone who has TB disease
- Homeless people
- Foreign-born people from countries where a lot of people have TB
- Nursing home residents
- Prisoners
- Alcoholics and intravenous drug users (IVDUs)
- People with medical conditions such as diabetes, certain types of cancers, and being underweight
- Especially people with HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS)
Hansen’s
The Hansen's Disease Program provides treatment for individuals with this disease in Public Health Region 11. The primary goal of the program is to prevent deformity and disability from HD through early diagnosis and treatment.
Contacts
Melissa Davis, RN, BSN, MS | TB Program Manager
Texas Department of State Health Services
Public Health Region 11
601 W. Sesame Dr., Harlingen, TX 78550
Phone: 956-423-0130 x5574
Fax: 956-444-3295