Lauren Denney, District 4’s Communicable Disease Nurse Coordinator, sees firsthand how tuberculosis — perhaps not considered by many Americans as a current potential health threat — remains a quiet but serious concern throughout the 12 counties she serves.

“Respiratory illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and whooping cough usually are the ones you see in the headlines,” she said. “TB has a reputation as being more of a disease in the past, but it is still very real in our area.”

Georgia reported 254 new TB cases in 2024, compared to 246 in 2023. In District 4’s 12-county area, 13 active TB cases were identified in 2024, the same number as in 2023.

Raising awareness during World Tuberculosis Day on March 24 helps Denney educate individuals about the potentially deadly infection, often considered in the medical field as a respiratory disease that “hides in plain sight,” she said.

“Many times patients are extremely ill before TB is even considered as the potential source, so by that time they have already infected family, friends and co-workers.”

Individuals at high risk for TB are urged to contact their physician’s office or local health department. District 4 health departments can administer a simple skin or blood test to determine the presence of TB infection. Signs and symptoms of an active infection include cough, coughing up blood, weight loss, fever, fatigue, night sweats, and chest pain.

If a test is positive, the health department will check for an abnormal chest x-ray or positive sputum smear or culture to see if it has progressed to active TB disease. County health departments also have treatments available for both latent TB infection and TB disease.

Health departments also provide Directly Observed Therapy (DOT), which is the standard tuberculosis program to ensure TB patients complete their treatment correctly. Georgia law requires persons with active TB take appropriate medication because it is an infection that can easily be spread.

Visit District 4’s website to learn more about TB testing and treatment options offered at local health departments as well as District 4’s role in protecting individuals and communities from the spread of this disease. To make an appointment for TB testing, please call 1-800-847-4262.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Natalie Shelton
natalie.shelton@dph.ga.gov or (706) 302-6706