Grand Forks Public Health protects the public by monitoring the residents of Grand Forks County for Tuberculosis (TB), and treating active cases of TB disease.

Tuberculosis Screening and Testing of Health Care Personnel:

Health care personnel should be screened for TB upon hire (i.e., preplacement). The local health department should be notified immediately if TB disease is suspected. Annual TB testing is not recommended unless there is a known exposure or ongoing transmission. Annual testing of health care personnel is not recommended unless there is a known exposure or ongoing transmission at a healthcare facility. Health care personnel with untreated latent TB infection should receive an annual TB symptom screen. Symptoms for TB disease include any of the following: a cough lasting longer than three weeks, unexplained weight loss, night sweats or a fever, and a loss of appetite. should be replaced with annual TB education, symptom review, and risk assessment.

All health care personnel should received TB education annually. TB education should include information on TB risk factors, the signs and symptoms of TB disease, and TB infection control policies and procedures. Click this link for more detailed CDC recommendations.

Grand Forks Public Health does not conduct TB testing by request. TB testing will only be available to those contacted by the TB manager.

Services at GFPH include: 

  • TB testing if contacted by TB manager
  • Referral for evaluation of positive tests
  • Monitoring treatment for persons with TB infection (latent TB)
  • Providing free medication for the treatment of TB
  • Nurse case management of TB patients in Grand Forks County
  • TB Contact Investigation
  • Directly Observed Therapy for persons with active TB disease
  • Follow up on TB Class B Arrivals
  • Consultation with area and national TB experts
  • Community education