XI. Community Tuberculosis Prevention Control
Last Updated April 2026
To reduce the spread of TB and the emergence of drug-resistant TB, CureTB connects people with TB to healthcare services as they move between the United States and other countries.
Health departments, healthcare providers, and others can refer patients to CureTB for assistance with accessing ongoing TB care abroad. CureTB can also help health officials and providers locate TB treatment health records for their patients in different countries.
CDC Division of Global Migration Health's Southern Border Health and Migration Branch and the County of San Diego's Tuberculosis Control Program work together to manage the CureTB program.
Cure TB Services TB Treatment Referral⌃- CureTB refers patients with active (confirmed or probable) TB to the public health system in their destination country.
- CureTB sends relevant clinical information and continues follow up with the receiving country for results of treatment.
- To refer a patient for TB treatment in their destination country, complete the CureTB Transnational Notification form.
- CureTB can request information about a patient's TB treatment history from national TB programs outside of the United States.
- To request a clinical history, complete the CureTB Transnational Notification form.
- CureTB notifies public health authorities in other countries about patients diagnosed with TB in the United States who have contacts in their respective countries.
- CureTB refers contacts to public health authorities in other countries if contacts relocate to another country after being identified in the United States, especially if they are under 5 years old or are immunocompromised.
- To request contact notifications, complete the CureTB Contact/Source Investigation Notification form.
CureTB’s referral services and processes vary by country.
- Step 1: A healthcare professional refers a patient with confirmed or probable TB to CureTB before the patient leaves the United States.
- Step 2: CureTB interviews the patient to confirm their contact information.
- Step 3: CureTB refers the patient to the receiving health authority.
- Step 4: CureTB follows-up with the patient and the receiving authority.
- Step 5: CureTB shares the final treatment results with the referring agency.
How to Submit a CureTB Referral
- To refer a patient to CureTB, download the appropriate form for your request:
- Complete the form and attach reports for sputum smears, molecular tests, cultures, drug susceptibility, and pertinent radiology/pathology examinations whenever possible.
- Send the referral form and attachments to CureTB by encrypted email. If you MUST send by fax, contact CureTB by phone first.
- If you do not receive a confirmation email from CureTB in 1 business day, please call.
Note: CureTB does not usually offer treatment referrals if a patient requires fewer than 30 days to complete treatment after leaving the United States. Cultures and drug susceptibility tests are not routinely performed in all countries and may not be available.
- Refer early. Let a CureTB referral manager speak to your patient before they leave the United States. This will help us establish rapport, clarify CureTB's role, and get accurate locating information abroad.
- Provide complete information. Attach laboratory, clinical, and treatment information to your referral. This will help us provide the receiving provider with complete information about the patient. Provide updates if important clinical information is pending at the time of referral (e.g., drug susceptibility testing results).
- Identify reliable contacts. Ask your patient to provide contact information (e.g., phone, address, e-mail) for at least two people who will always know where they can be found. We will also review this information with your patient(s).
Email: CureTB@cdc.gov (All states, except California)
CureTB.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov (California-only Referrals)
Phone: (619) 542-4013
GDPH utilizes the 2009 Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) case definition for tuberculosis (Position Statement 09-ID-65) that can be accessed at: https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/tuberculosis-2009/
- A positive tuberculin skin test or positive interferon gamma release assay for M. tuberculosis
- Signs and symptoms compatible with TB (abnormal chest imaging study or clinical evidence of current disease)
- Treatment with two or more anti-TB medications
- A completed diagnostic evaluation
- Isolation of M. tuberculosis complex on a culture from a clinical specimen, or
- Demonstration of M. tuberculosis complex from a clinical specimen by nucleic acid amplification test
Confirmed case: A case that meets the clinical case definition or is laboratory confirmed
Health department staff are trained and experienced in contact investigation, provision of directly observed treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) and directly observed therapy (DOT) for the treatment of patients with active disease. Physicians with expertise in treating TB are part of the health department team in each county. DOT is the standard of care for all patients with TB disease in Georgia and is strongly recommended for all patients with tuberculosis to facilitate adherence and completion of therapy.
Early reporting of suspected or confirmed TB cases is important for control of TB and is required by law. Reporting gives the clinician access to the resources of the public health department for assistance in case management and contact investigation and consultation with expert TB clinicians. Contact investigations are indicated to determine those who have been exposed to infectious TB patients so close contacts can be evaluated for evidence of active or latent TB and treatment provided as indicated.
Tuberculosis services (radiology, medical consultations, DOT, etc.) are available in every health district. All TB medications are provided by the state pharmacy free of charge.
For TB control efforts, it is important that there be a smooth transition from the in-patient to the outpatient setting and close cooperation and coordination of activities among the wide variety of organizations involved in TB patient care, education and TB control.
Minimum Criteria for discharge planning:⌃- Patients have been initiated on treatment with an appropriate anti-TB regimen (e.g., 4-drug regimen) and are medically ready for discharge.
- All TB patients have their discharge endorsed in the chart prior to discharge by the hospital social worker and the local health department liaison.
CureTB (https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/phs/cure_tb/) is a referral and continuity of care program for tuberculosis patients and their contacts who travel between the United States and Mexico. Services are available for patients, their families and providers from any state in the United States or Mexico. CureTB also provides services for patients travelling to other countries.
CureTB facilitates and supports continuity of care for individuals with active tuberculosis disease and their contacts and provides linkages to ongoing care and follow-up for all referred patients. CureTB accepts referrals from health departments, correctional facilities, and other entities that diagnose or treat patients with tuberculosis.
The Binational Card is a tool to help mobile patients and their families connect with CureTB when they arrive at their next destination. They can also give the card to their provider to connect with CureTB to obtain the latest clinical information. The card is easy to carry and has the CureTB 1-800 number, reachable from inside or outside the U.S.
To request binational cards⌃
- Telephone: (619) 542-4013
- Email:curetb.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov
- Persons with active Tuberculosis and those suspected of having TB
- Contact Notification
- Source Case Finding
- Clinical History Request
You can submit a CureTB referral in three ways. Use a referral form and attach hard copies of relevant clinical information whenever possible. Visit the www.curetb.org website for additional information regarding the relevant clinical information for the different types of referral.
- Fax: (619) 692-8020
- Email: curetb.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov
- Telephone: (619) 542-4013