June 2026

🌎TB and the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Things to Consider

The United States, Mexico, and Canada are hosting the FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19. The tournament is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region. On the West Coast, Seattle and Vancouver, BC are just 2 of the host cities. While matches will take place in those cities, Fan Zones will be set up across Washington—from Bellingham to Vancouver and Bremerton to Spokane —bringing World Cup excitement to communities statewide.

Although TB transmission is less likely than the spread of other germs during large events, the influx of visitors and increased gatherings will raise the overall risk of respiratory disease spread. Visitors may also be unfamiliar with our public health and health care systems, creating additional challenges if they become ill while here.

During the World Cup, we recommend your TB teams be prepared to:

• Ask about attendance at the World Cup or Fan Zone events when interviewing people newly reported with TB. Note, it might be wise to continue asking about attendance for some time after the World Cup concludes, too. 
• Assist visitors from diverse backgrounds, speaking various languages, who might need evaluation for TB, navigate our public health and health care systems.
• Coordinate temporary isolation and support services for visitors suspected or confirmed to have TB.
• Review processes for connecting with state and federal TB officials if a visitor with TB may need temporary travel restrictions.
• If you need a refresher see Chapter 15: Travel and Transfers on TB Treatment of the TB Standards and Services Manual and the DGMH Travel Checklist.
• Review processes for connecting with local, state, and federal partners if a transfer of information is needed to another jurisdiction.
• If you need a refresher see Chapter 15: Travel and Transfers on TB Treatment of the TB Standards and Services Manual.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, please reach out with questions, needs, or with best practices to share that could benefit others. Contact us at tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

📝2026–2027 TB Elimination Alliance (TEA) Mini-Grant Program Now Accepting Proposals

Apply now for the 2026–2027 TEA Mini‑Grant Program, offering $10,000–$15,000 to support organizations improving LTBI/TB awareness, education, and care in communities at increased risk. Applications are due 5 p.m. local time on July 24, 2026.

🔄Updated Resource: Radiographic Manifestations of Tuberculosis: A Primer for Clinicians on Basic Radiography of Pulmonary TB This fully updated primer by Curry International Tuberculosis Center (CITC) is designed for clinicians who are likely to encounter patients with TB, with the clinical use of chest radiography for diagnosis and management of TB in mind.

🔄Updated Resource: Children Under 5 Exposed to Infectious TB Guide The Mayo Clinic Center for TB has released an updated version of its Children Under 5 Exposed to Infectious TB Guide, now featuring a dedicated section on window prophylaxis.

ℹ️Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Timeline: Understanding H.R.1’s Impact on Washington Benefits

View DSHS’s updated July 2025–October 2028 timeline graphic outlining how recent federal legislation (H.R. 1) will impact SNAP food benefits and Apple Health/Medicaid in Washington.

📲TEA & Mental Health Awareness Month Video Reel

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, TEA’s Instagram reel highlighted the importance of integrating mental health into TB care. 

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

📢 Elimination of Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) DOH TB Program Funding

Earlier this year, for the upcoming state fiscal year starting July 1, the overall FPHS budget for local health, tribes, State Board of Health, and DOH was reduced by about 15% during the legislative session. This approximate reduction of $20 million will result in significant impacts on our public health system, with our TB Program being just one directly impacted. The FPHS Steering Committee has voted to eliminate the DOH TB Program’s FPHS budget, as a part of the $20 million reduction. This means that starting July 1, the Program will no longer receive any FPHS funding.

For many years, this funding has paid for several essential services, including:

• Free TB medications for LHJs and other partners statewide
• Free statewide access to the SureAdhere video directly observed therapy (vDOT) app
• Contracts supporting pharmacy services in some LHJs
• DOH staffing (2.25 FTE) that supports TB nursing consultation, epidemiology and surveillance, and the operations needed to run the statewide TB medication program and tools like SureAdhere.

Even with this major loss of funding, we do not expect LHJs to see changes in access to the state TB medications program or SureAdhere. LHJs and partners can continue using the statewide TB medication program and SureAdhere at no cost.

To keep these core services running, difficult decisions were made. The DOH TB Program will reduce its workforce, which may mean slower response times for technical assistance. We will also continue limiting staff travel, have very limited ability to support incentives and enablers, and will not be able to fund partner travel for training or education.

Because the loss of FPHS funding is so large, we expect it will affect our remaining funding sources as well. We are still assessing the full impact. Once we have more details, we will share them. At this time, though, we do anticipate a 15% reduction in the TB Cooperative Agreement consolidated contract (ConCon) yet-to-be awarded remaining 2026 funding for each funded LHJ. We know this reduction will have real impact, and it was only considered after all other options were exhausted.

If you have questions about the services the DOH TB Program will continue to provide after the loss of this critical funding, please contact Scott at Scott.Hutton@doh.wa.gov or 564-200-3178.

We value our strong TB community in Washington and remain committed to supporting essential services.

🔜 Coming Soon: Updated NTIP Snapshot Reports & Resources

We apologize for the delay in distributing NTIP Snapshot Reports. Refreshed reports and accompanying materials will be delivered to your inbox shortly, featuring data from 2022 through 2025. The WA DOH TB Program strongly encourages LHJs to use these resources to support internal program evaluation efforts.

In preparation, you can read more about the National Tuberculosis Indicators Project (NTIP).

Have a question about NTIP or program evaluation? Reach out to the TB Services Inbox at tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

💊TB Medications and Records Retention

Although the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has a 3-year records retention requirement, your LHJ's record retention is much longer, so please ensure that your TB medication policy aligns with the longest required duration of retention.

Review your LHJ records retention schedule in Section 6 of the Public Health Records Retention Schedule.

❗Important WDRS Data Point Please complete the “Type of insurance” field in WDRS TB records to document your TB patients' insurance information.  It will save you time in an audit. If DOH is audited by HRSA, it could reduce the chance of us having to ask you for more information.

This field can be located two different ways in WDRS:

• TB Wizard: top section under Administrative Information.
  Or
• Additional Information Question Package: Additional Information section.

Drop-down options include a variety of insurance types.

Upcoming Events and Education Opportunities

June 15  –  August 21, 2026 | Level 2: TB Case Management

CITC has updated its Tuberculosis Case Management and Contact Investigation Intensive by shifting from a series of live virtual trainings to a hybrid format. This includes six online self-paced modules, and one live interactive session. This online, asynchronous training for TB case managers working with persons with TB disease can be accessed, started, and revisited at any time during the course term. Registration available June 15.

June 25, 2026 | Asymptomatic TB or Subclinical TB

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB webinar defines latent TB infection and provides practical guidance on screening protocols and treatment approaches.

July 16, 2026 | Managing Post-TB Lung Health

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB webinar is a summary of post-TB respiratory problems, how to assess them, and evidence-based options for managing long-term lung health.

July 23, 2026 | Pediatric TB Webcast Series 1: Adolescent TB

Designed for healthcare professionals, the Heartland National TB Center series highlights real-world challenges and evidence-based strategies to improve TB care across pediatric populations.

August 13, 2026 | TB Screening and Referral Updates for Civil Surgeons

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB webinar reviews the updated CDC Tuberculosis Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons, focusing on screening, diagnosing, and referring applicants with infectious TB. Key updates and procedural guidance will be highlighted to support compliance with CDC requirements. 

August 20, 2026 | TB Contact Investigations: Family, School, and Community Cases

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB webinar outlines the process of conducting TB contact investigations and highlights effective school coordination and follow-up practices.

Level 1: TB Basics, Contact Investigation, and Latent TB Infection

The CITC online, asynchronous training for nurses and public health/disease control investigators can be accessed, started, and revisited at any time during the 10-week course term. 

• August 24 – October 30, 2026 (registration opens August 24)

September 3, 2026 | TB Champions Network

Stop TB USA and Mayo Clinic Center for Tuberculosis are partnering to build a network of frontline clinicians as "TB Champions" to raise awareness, serve as resources, and empower peers to "think TB."  This four-week orientation is designed to build foundational knowledge, foster peer connections, and introduce key TB resources.

September 17, 2026 | Integrating TDM into Pediatric Care: Practical Strategies

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB webinar reviews therapeutic drug monitoring, focusing on pediatric candidates and practical strategies for routine integration. 

November 17 – 20, 2026 | 2026 Union World Conference on Lung Health

The Union World Conference on Lung Health in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil brings together researchers, practitioners, advocates, policymakers and communities from around the world to share knowledge, exchange ideas and accelerate progress in lung health.

Washington's TB Project ECHO

On select Tuesdays 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. PT, join the 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 p.m., focused on TB basic and clinical sciences by local trainees', local and visiting faculty, and special guests.

Articles

Characteristics of Plausible Source Cases Responsible for Recent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Transmission, United States, 2018–2022

Emerging Infectious Diseases | June 2026 | doi: 10.3201/eid3206.260104

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

Mayo Clinic Center for TB

• Recorded Webinars (credits not available)
• Foundations in Tuberculosis Course (credits available)
• LTBI 101 for Healthcare Professionals (credits not available)

CITC Archived Webinars
CME/CE units not available for most of these trainings.

• 1.5 CE units available January 1–June 30, 2026: Demystifying Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Treatment for the Primary Care Provider

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

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

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

The Union

• Free Online Course - Interpretation of Chest X-Rays in Children with Presumptive TB
• Online Course on Management of Child and Adolescent Tuberculosis

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.
• 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.

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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