2003 Reportable Communicable Disease Summary

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The most common site for active TB disease is the lung; however, TB can occur in any organ in the body. TB is spread when a person develops active pulmonary or laryngeal TB, coughs the bacteria into the air, and another person inhales them into their lungs. TB is preventable, treatable, and curable. TB can be prevented by diagnosing and treating persons with active TB disease; and by identifying and treating persons with "latent" TB infection, who, if untreated, are likely to develop active TB disease. Reporting of TB ensures that cases are treated and that contacts are identified and offered preventive antibiotics.


A total of 106 cases of active TB disease were verified in Oregon in 2003, for a rate of 3.0 cases per 100,000 residents. The standard initial treatment for active TB in Oregon includes four drugs: INH, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol pending susceptibility testing.

The Oregon TB rate of 3.0/100,000 meets the Healthy People 2000 Goal of <3.5/100,000; however, reduced morbidity leads to decreased awareness and delays in diagnosis and treatment.