Welcome

The Tuberculosis Control Program works to prevent the transmission and spread of tuberculosis (TB), with the ultimate goal of eliminating TB from the county. The TB Control program is an administrative office that receives reports and provides review of TB suspects and cases in Tulare County. 

Services

The TB Control Program offers evaluation and treatment of individuals with active or suspected active TB disease. Screening services (TB tests, chest x-rays, symptom check, and physician evaluation, when appropriate) are offered to residents of Tulare County who meet the following criteria:

• Persons with two or more TB symptoms, such as cough, coughing up blood, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss
• Persons with abnormal chest x-rays consistent with active TB disease
• Persons in contact with an active TB disease case
• Persons with documentation of a TB test that has gone from negative to positive within the last 2 years
• Newly arriving refugees
• Newly arriving immigrants required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) to be evaluated for TB
• Persons with HIV/AIDS
• Clients of residential detoxification centers and drug and alcohol treatment centers
• Clients of shelters

Persons needing TB screening services or clearances for work or school (such as students, teachers, school volunteers, certified employees [e.g., janitors], health care workers, childcare workers, and foster parents) should contact their private physician, a neighborhood medical clinic, or a clinic associated with a pharmacy. However, TB Control can provide screening services or clearances to those unable to afford the costs due to high co-pays or for those without insurance. 

TB Control offers treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI) to residents of Tulare County who are at highest risk for progression from TB infection to active TB disease, as follows:

• Persons in contact with an active TB disease case
• Persons with documentation of a TB test that has gone from negative to positive within the last 2 years
• Newly arriving refugees
• Newly arriving immigrants required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) to be evaluated for TB
• Persons with HIV/AIDS
• Foreign-born persons residing in the United States for less than 2 years
• Anyone with a positive TB test who would like to take preventive treatment

It is important to note that TB screening and treatment services are offered to patients by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call the Tulare County Public Health Clinic at (559) 623-0690. If you will need an interpreter or language translation services, please tell the scheduler when making the appointment.

Planning for your Appointment:

1. Plan to arrive 10–15 minutes prior to your appointment time.
2. Bring a list of all your prescriptions.
3. Bring your insurance card, if available.
4. Bring a copy of any and all tests, labs, chest x-rays/CT scans, etc., that you have completed related to TB.

Health Care Provider Requirements

Health care providers and laboratories are required to report cases of residents having confirmed or suspected active TB disease to Tulare County TB Control within one working day, as mandated by California Health and Safety Code, Division 4, Chapter 5, and Administrative Code Title 17, Chapter 4, Section 2500.

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