Tuberculosis in the 21st Century and New West Virginia

LawsCarmen M. Priddy, RN, BSN, Division Director

and

Libby Boggess, RN, Interjurisdictional Referral Contact/Nurse Consultant and TB Surveillance Nurse

State of WV, Department of Health and Human Resources/Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services/Division of TB Elimination

Objective: Learn the current status of tuberculosis in WV.

Objective: Describe the role of local health departments in

regards to TB control.

Objectives: Learn the current endemic countries for tuberculosis.

Objective: Understand the new TB Laws for public schools in WV.

Sections W.Va. Code §16-3D-2 and §16-3D-3 have been changed in the TB Testing law for schools (HB 2669). These amended parts became effective May 25, 2015.

The new changes to the TB law are as follows:

• The requirement to do compulsory TB testing for out of state transfer students and new school personnel has been removed. This is no longer a requirement for schools.

• However, per §16-3D-3-C, selective testing of students and school personnel for TB may be required “when there is a reason to believe that they may have been exposed to the tuberculosis organism or they have signs and symptoms of TB disease.”

Objective: Understand the new TB Laws for public schools in WV.

Sections W.Va. Code §16-3D-2 and §16-3D-3 have been changed in the TB Testing law for schools (HB 2669). These amended parts became effective May 25, 2015.

• “School nurses shall identify and refer any students or school personnel to the Local Health Department in instances where they have reason to suspect that the individual has been exposed to tuberculosis or has symptoms indicative of the disease.”

• The school nurses may refer people to the local health department who are new enterers/hires from an endemic country or if they have signs & symptoms of TB. It is the local health department’s job to evaluate these persons and decide whether they need a TB test or not, or if further evaluation is needed.

Thank You!