Programs
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, or “TB”, is a serious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most often affects the lungs but can be found in other parts of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. It can spread when someone with active TB of the lungs or voice box coughs, yells, sneezes, or talks and others breathe in the bacteria.
There are two types of TB – latent TB infection and active TB disease. A person diagnosed with latent TB infection is infected with the TB bacteria, but is not able to transmit the infection to another person. A person with active TB disease can spread the TB germs to others.
Spreading Tuberculosis
TB can spread when someone with active TB of the lungs or voice box coughs, yells, sneezes, or talks and others breathe in the bacteria. People are most likely to become infected with TB if they spend many hours in close contact with someone with TB disease.
Note: Brief contact usually does not lead to infection. Horizon Public Health provides contact investigations to identify, notify and evaluate those with known exposure to active TB disease.
Prevention & Control Program
The Minnesota Department of Health has a TB Prevention and Control Program, which collaborates with clinicians and local health departments throughout Minnesota to ensure that persons with TB receive effective and timely treatment, and that contact investigations are performed to minimize the spread of TB.
Public health nurses at Horizon Public Health work cooperatively with persons diagnosed with TB and their providers to ensure those with TB infection and TB disease are treated and complete their therapy course.
Learn More:
Check out the six-minute video below about how to protect your family and community from tuberculosis.
Additional information about tuberculosis is available from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Free Tuberculosis Medication Program
The Minnesota Department of Health provides free medications for people with TB disease and LTBI. Ask your healthcare provider or reach out to Horizon Public Health.
Contact Information
If you have questions about TB or would like to learn more about the tuberculosis services provided by Horizon Public Health, please contact us at 800-450-4177 or 320-763-4127.