Over one-third of the world’s population has been exposed to the TB bacterium, and new infections occur at a rate of one per second. Not everyone infected develops the full blown disease; asymptomatic, latent TB infection is most common. However, one in ten latent infections will progress to active TB disease, which, if left untreated, kills more than half of its victims.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria whose scientific name is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB most commonly affects the lungs but also can involve almost any organ of the body. A person can become infected with tuberculosis bacteria when he or she inhales minute particles of infected sputum from the air. The bacteria get into the air when someone who has a tuberculosis lung infection coughs, sneezes, shouts, or spits. People who are nearby can then possibly breathe the bacteria into their lungs. You don’t get TB by just touching the clothes or shaking the hands of someone who is infected. Tuberculosis is spread (transmitted) primarily from person to person by breathing infected air during close contact

Program personnel are responsible for education and follow-up on all tuberculosis cases as well as their contacts.

Apache County offers PPD skin testing for tuberculosis by appointment Monday – Wednesday. A return visit is required to have the skin test read at 48-72 hours. There is a $10.00 fee for this skin test. Please call 928-333-2415 for an appointment.