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Tuberculosis

TB Guidance for Haiti Earthquake Responders

This is an archived document. The links and content are no longer being updated.

Page last updated: January 25, 2010

Guidance for Relief Workers and Others Traveling to Haiti

If you anticipate giving medical care or working closely with ill or injured victims or other displaced persons in Haiti, a tuberculin skin test (TST) is recommended before travel and then 8-10 weeks after return. Depending upon availability, a TB blood test called interferon-gamma release assay or IGRA may be used in place of the TST. A negative result within the past 12 months should suffice as a baseline. Persons with prior positive results do not need to be tested again. If feasible, persons whose last negative TST result was >12 months before travel or who have no previous TST result should consider a two-step TST, as recommended for newly hired healthcare workers.

Regardless of TST or IGRA results, any person who develops symptoms of TB during or after deployment should seek a medical evaluation immediately.

If exposure to known TB patients or persons suspected of having TB will occur, traveling with personal respiratory protective devices (i.e., N-95 respirators), along with training, is recommended. The personal respiratory protective device should always be worn when in contact with any person suspected or known to have TB. Performing a user-seal check on respirators before each use is essential to ensure adequate respiratory protection.

After You Come Home

A tuberculin skin test (TST) or TB blood test (interferon-gamma release assay or IGRA) is recommended 8-10 weeks after return. Persons with prior positive results do not need to be tested again.

If you did not have time to get a baseline TST or TB blood test before going to Haiti AND your last negative test result was >12 months prior or you had no previous result, consider getting tested as soon as possible after returning home, and then again 8-10 weeks after return.

If you develop symptoms of TB disease, seek a medical evaluation immediately. Tell your healthcare provider that you have recently returned from response and relief work in Haiti. The risk of developing TB disease is highest in the first 2 years after infection.

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