April 2025

EthnoMed Tuberculosis (TB) Awareness & Prevention Public Service Announcements Last month, EthnoMed, in collaboration with Public Health-Seattle & King County, created multilingual public service announcements (PSAs). These short videos provide essential details about TB screening, treatment, and prevention in multiple languages.

CDC Printed TB Materials Warehouse Closing Soon The CDC will close its Publication Warehouse and end the free printed materials service in September 2025. The last day to place orders is September 2, 2025. Over 1,000 health promotion materials, including tuberculosis education resources, are currently available for order. Though CDC will no longer provide printed materials through this service, resources will continue to be available electronically at CDC TB Resources. We encourage you to order printed materials, using these step-by-step instructions, before the deadline. For questions, contact tbinfo@cdc.gov.

In-Person Seattle TB Training Opportunities in July

The Curry International Tuberculosis Center, Firland Northwest Tuberculosis Center, and Washington State Department of Health Tuberculosis Program are pleased to announce three upcoming in-person trainings. The application deadline is April 18th. 

• July 15, 2025: Tuberculosis Nursing Workshop
• July 16, 2025: Focus on Latent TB Infection (LTBI)
• July 17-18, 2025: Tuberculosis Clinical Intensive

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) 340B TB Annual Recertification

The annual TB Entity recertification period is approaching.

• For most LHJs, WA DOH TB Program may reach out for some information, but we will handle the recertification on your behalf.
• For a few LHJs whose Authorizing Official is at the LHJ, we will be sending your staff information needed to complete the recertification accurately.

Please reach out to our program if you have any questions: tbservices@doh.wa.gov

Former CDC Rifampin 300 mg We hope the rifampin 300 mg received from the CDC has been helpful for your patients.

As the expiration date for this supply is at the end of the month, we request that all future rifampin 300 mg orders be placed using the appropriate order forms from either the 340B or MMCAP programs, depending on your patient's insurance coverage.

Additionally, there is still isoniazid 300 mg available for use with any TB patient, with an expiration date of 5/31/2026. This supply is available for LHJs and Tribal Health clinics. (Please remember that public health should be considered the payer of last resort.)

TB Care Finder Paused Nationally CDC's TB Care Finder has been paused nationally until further notice. We will share further details and updates as we get them.

Updated TB Partners SharePoint Resources  *Revised* BPaL Guidance​​​​​​​ Johnson & Johnson updates to their Patient Assistance Program for bedaquiline. ATS/CDC treatment updates to their MDR-TB Clinical Practice Guideline 12/2024.

TB Lab Temporary Closure at State Public Health Laboratory

The Emergency Response Laboratory at the Washington State Public Health Laboratories (WAPHL) is closed to undergo scheduled repair and maintenance from March through August. There will be a temporary change in services affecting TB and Emergency Response (ER) Lab testing.

There is no change in the process for lab specimen submissions. However, you should expect longer testing turnaround times from March 3 - September 1, 2025. 

Submitters will see a one-to-two-day delay in the turnaround when receiving reports. Because testing will be performed at another laboratory, submitters may notice differences in the report layout or design.

Submitters should continue to submit samples directly to the WAPHL using their normal process.

To report suspect cases or outbreaks of any notifiable conditions, follow the normal process for reporting to DOH.

Pharmacy Processing Slowdown Our normal pharmacy technician will be out from March 21 - April 21, 2025.  During this time, other technicians will be filling in. However, please anticipate that medication order processing may be slower than normal. We ask that you give extra time for order processing and reach out to us regarding any rush orders using our general program email box: tbservices@doh.wa.gov

SAVE THE DATE: TB Virtual LHJ Workshop Series Mark your calendars!    The WA DOH TB Program is excited to announce that we will be hosting a series of virtual events this summer for LHJ TB partners, every Wednesday in the month of June (6/4/25, 6/11/25, 6/18/25, 6/25/25). Sessions will be shorter than a typical LHJ workshop (two to four hours), and will cover updates, training, and collaboration opportunities specific to tuberculosis.

A formal agenda, timeslot details, and registration information will be coming soon so you can save the date(s) for sessions that best align with your role. We will record sessions as permitted by the presenters and post the recordings on TB SharePoint should you be unable to attend a session of interest.  If you have interest in serving on the planning committee, or would like to present on a relevant topic, please email tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

Upcoming Events and Education Opportunities

Tuesdays in April 2025 | Wisconsin Virtual TB Summit

The Wisconsin TB summit returns in 2025 with weekly virtual sessions held every Tuesday in April! Join local, state, and national tuberculosis experts as they share their work to understand and improve care for people diagnosed with TB in our community. More information here.

April 24, 2025 | 9th University of Washington Annual TB Symposium

Seattle TB Research Advancement Center (SEATRAC) is hosting the 9th Annual TB Symposium at Orin Smith Auditorium, South Lake Union. Space is limited, register by April 20th. Register here. 

Innovations in Tuberculosis (TB) Webinar Series

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB monthly webinar series offers healthcare professionals the latest insights in TB.

• April 17, 2025: Supporting Individuals with Tuberculosis and Mental Illness: Strategies for Care
• May 22, 2025: Differential Diagnosis of TB and Non-TB Mycobacterial (NTM)-related Lung Infections
• June 26, 2025: Unique and Emerging Aspects of Pediatric Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis Civil Surgeon Webinar Series

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB webinar series provides civil surgeons with knowledge and skills in the management of tuberculosis screening, testing, and treatment for individuals who are seeking admission into the United States.

• May 14, 2025: Interpreting IGRA Results: Advanced Insights for Civil Surgeons

May 30, 2025 | Preventing Tuberculosis in Your Clinic Setting – A Live Webinar

This Curry International TB Center training will address how to create, assess, and improve outcomes in an LTBI cascade of care in a clinic setting. Registration will be available here.

July 14 - August 1, 2025 | LTBI for Nurses

Offered by the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center (SNTC), this 3-week course is designed for nurses new to TB and covers the foundations of LTBI: using a risk assessment tool and LTBI care cascade to assess, test, treat, and case manage LTBI to successful treatment completion. Registration will be available here.

August 25 - November 14, 2025 | TB Nurse Case Management

This SNTC 40-hour course focuses on the nurse case management process for tuberculosis. Registration will be available here.

September 1 - 26, 2025 | Fundamentals of TB Contact Investigation

This SNTC 4-week course is designed for nurses and field staff new to contact investigation and covers transmission and pathogenesis of TB, deciding when to initiate an investigation, determining the start and end of the infectious period, prioritizing contacts, communication skills, and cultural and diversity considerations. Registration will be available here.

October 6 - 24, 2025 | Foundations in TB Diagnosis and Treatment

This SNTC 3-week course was designed for healthcare providers new to TB and covers all aspects of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment. Registration will be available here.

October 8-9, 2025 | TB Clinical Intensive 2025

This Mayo Clinic conference provides healthcare professionals with the latest insights on tuberculosis (TB), including screening, diagnosis, and treatment of active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI). Register here. 

Washington's TB Project ECHO

On Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 pm PT, join our lunch-time virtual discussion about real TB cases with your peers. This free interactive event is guided by a panel of local TB experts. Click here for more information about this local project and our partners who make this ongoing event possible.

SEATRAC Seminar Series

SEATRAC hosts and promotes seminars, one Friday session per month from 12 - 1 PM, focused on TB basic and clinical sciences by local trainees', local and visiting faculty, and special guests.

Articles

Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2019-2023

Emerging Infectious Diseases | 3/2025 | doi: 10.3201/eid3103.241675

Case Finding Among and Comprehensive Management of Household Contacts of Persons with Pulmonary Tuberculosis: a Pilot Project — Uganda, 2023–2024

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) | 3/2025 | doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7409a1

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

World TB Day Recordings

• World TB Day, WABE Podcast Health Wanted
• John Green in conversation with Laurel Bristow - Everything Is Tuberculosis, Emory/Georgia Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center
• Tuberculosis in Children, Mayo Clinic Talk Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean
• For the Love of TB: A Conversation with Rick Ervin About His Lifetime in TB, Southeastern National TB Center

Mayo Clinic Innovations in Tuberculosis (TB) Webinar Series

Access here.

CITC Archived Webinars
CME/CE units will not be offered for these trainings. Access here.

Rutgers TB Institute Webinar Archives
CE units are not available for these archives. Access here.

SNTC Archived Webinars
CME/CE units are not offered for these trainings. Access here.

SNTC Online Courses
CME units are offered for these trainings. Access here.

CDC

• TB 101 for Health Care Workers CE units expire on 11/6/2025. Access here.
• Efficacy and Safety of 4-Month Rifapentine-Based Tuberculosis Treatments in Persons with Diabetes CME unit expires on 2/24/2026. Access here.

The Union

• Free Online Course - Interpretation of Chest X-Rays in Children with Presumptive TB

TB ECHO Recorded Archives
Missed a TB ECHO^® session? TB ECHO^® has didactic presentations available for viewing on YouTube. Handouts related to the presentation are included where appropriate. Watch recorded TB ECHO®.

Tools and Resources

Minnesota's Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health

• Access helpful tools, trainings, and updates for newcomers and refugee health here.

CDC

• CDC Learning Connection.
• CDC TRAIN is a comprehensive catalog of free public health training opportunities from the Public Health Foundation. For TB-related trainings, click here.
• FindTBResources.cdc.gov - TB educational materials for patients and providers.
• Visit Everyday Words for Public Health Communication to find plain language alternatives for public health jargon.
• TB Personal Stories patient videos to help raise awareness about TB in the US.
• we are TB offers comprehensive peer support for current TB patients and TB clinics, including weekly live support group sessions.
• Subscribe to the CDC's quarterly newsletter, TB Notes!

DOH Refugee and Immigrant Health Program

• Afghan Health Resources - Fact sheets, webinars, videos, and other health resources (scroll down for TB resources).
• Ukrainian Health Resources - Fact sheets, webinars, videos, and other health resources to support new arrivals from Ukraine (scroll down for TB resources).

Southeastern National TB Center

• Individualized Country Guides

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