TB Program, Oregon Health Authority

06/22/2026

Did you know?
TB is one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases and has been around for thousands of years! There is evidence found in the spines of Egyptian mummies that TB existed over 5,000 years ago. Even though it has existed that long, it wasn't identified until it's scientific discovery in 1882. Since then, TB has killed more than 1 billion people worldwide, more than malaria, smallpox and HIV/AIDS, making TB the world's deadliest infectious disease.

06/19/2026

🎉✨ Happy Juneteenth! Today, we celebrate freedom, resilience, and the rich history of Black culture. Let's honor our ancestors with joy, unity, and love! May this day inspire hope and progress for all! 🌍✊🏽

06/18/2026

The OHA TB program team is small but mighty! They are a team of three that works diligently together to meet the needs of Oregonians at risk for and facing TB disease. The team consists of a TB nurse consultant who is a longtime TB expert with over two decades of TB knowledge, a TB epidemiologist who tracks and compiles all the statewide data about TB and helps investigate and map trends and identify high-risk communities, and finally a program assistant that helps manage the team calendars and facilitates meetings and trainings across the state.
This little team is dedicated to working towards the program mission of eliminating TB in Oregon, today and everyday.

06/16/2026

TB testing helps determine if you have TB bacteria in your body. There are two common tests used to do this, the TB skin test (the Mantoux test) and the IGRA (blood test). The skin test requires follow up in 2-3 days for examination of the test site while the blood test will be sent to a lab to be tested. If you receive a positive on either of these TB tests it means that you have latent TB infection. You will need a chest x-ray to rule out active disease before deciding on a course of treatment.

06/15/2026

TB can affect many parts of the body, but it usually affects the lungs. Not everyone with TB will get sick so it is helpful to know the symptoms. Usually those might include:
- A cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks
- Feeling very tired or weak
- Losing weight without a reason
- Fever or night sweats
- Pain in the chest
- Coughing up mucus or sometimes blood

All of these symptoms can be common with other illnesses, like pneumonia or Covid-19, so it is important to see a doctor, especially if you are sick for longer than usually and are not getting better. Getting diagnosed early and on treatment sooner can help with a better recovery and outcome.

06/12/2026

Oregon is what is called a low-incidence state for TB. That means that compared to other areas of the U.S. and the world, we do not have very many active cases of TB each year. In 2025 there were 100 cases of TB reported in Oregon, which was higher than in last 10 years.
The increase in reported cases means that treatment and prevention is still very important. At the OHA TB Program our mission is the eliminate TB in Oregon. We work towards this goal by partnering with local public health in each county and with private medical providers in the state to provide training, facilitate lab testing, supply medication for treatment and fund other supportive services.
Until Oregon has no more cases of TB we will continue to do this important work for all Oregonians.

06/11/2026

TB Myths debunked!
Myth #1: You can get TB from shaking hands, hugging or sharing food.
Fact: TB is only spread through the air when a person with active disease that is untreated coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings and another person then breathes in the germs in from the air.
Myth #2: TB is a disease of the past, it's not around anymore!
Fact: TB remains one of the leading infectious diseases worldwide, killing more than any other infectious disease each year, though with proper treatment almost all patients will recover.
Myth #3: I do not have any symptoms, so I can't have TB.
Fact: TB germs can be asleep or dormant in the body for years, this is Latent TB infection which can progress to active TB disease later in life.

What are some things you've heard about TB?

06/09/2026

What is TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an illness that usually affects the lungs but can occur anywhere in the body. The disease is caused by germs called mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB can spread when a person sick with TB coughs or sneezes and the germs are released into the air and can be breathed in by another person.
Once you breathe in the germs TB can stay in your body without making you sick, this is called Latent TB infection (LTBI). Sometimes the germs multiply and begin to make you sick with fever, night sweats, weight loss and a bad cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, this is TB disease and is when TB becomes contagious.
Both LTBI and TB disease are treatable, but without treatment TB disease can make you very ill and can be deadly.
If you want to learn more about TB you can check out the Mayo Clinics overview here:

Learn about the prevention and treatment of this disease that causes serious illness around the world.

04/13/2026

Learn about the difference between Latent TB (LTBI) and active TB disease in this short clip from Creative Diagnostics

Active TB causes symptoms like weight loss, cough, and chest pain, and spreads through airborne droplets. Latent TB occurs when the bacteria are inactive, wi...

04/09/2026

🎉✨ Happy Education and Sharing Day! 🎓📚 Let's celebrate the gift of knowledge and the joy of giving! 🌼 Share wisdom, open hearts, and embrace learning together. May we inspire one another to grow and shine brightly like the stars in our community. 💖 What are you learning today?