What is Tuberculosis?

How Do You Get Infected?

Drugs and Resistances

Early Tuberculosis Treatments

Who Will Be Affected?

Resources

What If an Outbreak Occurs?

What I Can Do As an Individual

First of all,

STAY CALM! 

Tuberculosis is dangerous, but you are not helpless.  Here are some steps you can take should an outbreak occur:

• If you or someone you know has Tuberculosis-like symptoms, report it right away to the authorities. 
  The earlier Tuberculosis is treated the greater the chances of survival are.

• Stay away from affected items and affected people. 
  Tuberculosis is an airborne pathogen, but can also be transmitted through the ingestion of infected sputum in drinks, on eating utensils, etc. 
  Clean anything that has possibly come into contact with an infected person’s secretions such as bedding, food ware, railings on stairs,
  doorknobs, and toothbrushes.

• If someone you know is infected, make sure they get help!  If help is not immediately available, make sure the person stays in the open air
  as much as possible and continues to eat well and drink plenty of liquids.  Fresh air will not only help the infected person, it will also help
  prevent the spread to others!

• Make sure to get tested yourself.  Tuberculosis can go unnoticed (in the latent stage) for well over a year!  If you can find Tuberculosis
  before you even exhibit the symptoms you have a very good chance of getting rid of it without ever having to suffer.

What I Can Do As an Organization

The most important thing is to be prepared.  Provide people in your organization with training and have a plan in place should an outbreak occur.

• If you or someone you know has Tuberculosis-like symptoms, report it right away to the authorities.  The earlier Tuberculosis is treated the greater
   the chances of survival are.

• National Incident Management System (NIMS) training is available free of charge at www.fema.gov. This training will help prepare people in your
  organization to take charge in any crisis situation.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help!  Organizations should use other organizations if the task is too overwhelming. 
  Combining resources will provide more efficient and effective help if proper planning is in place.

• Don’t hesitate to use what is available?  Instead of reinventing the wheel, why not use one that already works? 
  For example, if you need a place to separate infected people, try an old sanatorium or converting available vacant buildings to be used.

• Be prepared to manage the media and use them to your advantage.  If and when you have information to get across to the public,
  use everything available including television, internet, and radio.

• Be flexible and know the risks.  Because Tuberculosis is an airborne pathogen (usually inhaled through infected airborne sputum),
  those who around infected people are very likely to contract the disease.  Therefore, healthcare workers are at great risk of contracting Tuberculosis. 
  When the SARS outbreak happened in Toronto in 2003, health services were not allowed to use nebulizers and respirators because it would have
  aided the spread of SARS.  If a Tuberculosis outbreak occurs, similar steps may need to be put in place to prevent the spread and protect
  healthcare workers.