Tuberculosis Information for Emergencies and Disasters

The Importance of TB Treatment

It is very important that people who have tuberculosis (TB) disease are treated, take the drugs exactly as prescribed, and finish the medicine. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again. If they do not take the drugs correctly, the TB bacteria that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat.

TB Program Preparedness

Mass evacuations and damage caused by major emergencies or disasters can make efforts to help TB patients continue their treatment very difficult. TB programs’ work ensures that people who are receiving treatment for TB disease are able to continue their treatment, even if they are displaced temporarily or permanently by an emergency or disaster.

Ensuring continuity of TB treatment during emergencies and disasters should be included as part of public health emergency preparedness planning.  In the event of an emergency or disaster, TB programs should:

• Make sure contact information for patients is current, and staff can reach patients if they decided to evacuate to another location.
• Provide to patients contact numbers of TB program personnel.
• Consider providing additional medication if patients are likely to be relocated, or if health department operations are likely to be affected.