Minimizing Incidence of Tuberculosis
Public Health conducts case finding, diagnosis and treatment of active and latent cases, contact investigation, directly observed therapy and education.
For more information about this program, please call us at 845-292-5910 ext. 0.
FAQs
What are the symptoms of TB?
- Symptoms of TB disease include fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, a persistent cough and (sometimes) coughing up blood.
How is TB spread?
- TB spreads in the air when a person who has TB disease coughs, sneezes or speaks.
- You cannot get TB by touching something that someone with tuberculosis has handled. You cannot get TB from someone who has latent/inactive TB.
- Some people may be at higher risk for TB. See this link for more information: Tuberculosis Risk Factors (CDC)
How is TB treated?
- If you have TB infection, you can be prevented from getting TB disease. You will be given a medication that must be taken daily for 6 months. If you have TB disease you are given two or more drugs that must be taken for 6-12 months.
I have latent/inactive TB. Why do I need to get treatment?
- Without treatment, 1 in 10 people with latent TB will get sick with active TB disease. When this happens, disease can spread to others and be deadly. Treatment for latent TB is much easier than treatment for active TB disease.
