A. DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy and is an integral part of the public health system. The Department is the center of a comprehensive network of public health providers and is a partner to local health departments. The Department is a source of accurate, up-to-date health information to the Governor, the Legislature, the federal government, and local communities. This information is used to monitor the health status of Connecticut’s residents, set health priorities, and evaluate the effectiveness of health initiatives. The Department is focused on health outcomes, maintaining a balance between assuring quality and administrative functions among personnel, facilities, and programs. The Department’s mission is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by: • Assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy; • Preventing disease, injury, and disability; and • Promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state. B. PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program is part of the Infectious Disease Section at the Department of Public Health. Its mission is to interrupt and prevent the transmission of TB and the emergence of drug-resistant TB, and to reduce and prevent death, disability, illness, emotional trauma, family disruption, and social stigma associated with TB. TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB). TB typically infects the lungs but can infect any body part, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with MTB becomes sick. As a result, two (2) TB-related conditions exist: Latent TB Infection (LTBI) and Active TB Disease. People with LTBI have MTB inside their bodies, but their immune system controls it. These individuals have no symptoms, do not feel sick, and cannot spread MTB to others. About five (5) to ten (10) percent of people with LTBI will develop Active TB Disease at some time in their lives. LTBI treatment prevents ninety (90) percent of these infections from progressing to Active TB Disease. The CDC estimates that up to thirteen million (13,000,000) people in the United States live with LTBI, and without treatment, one (1) in ten (10) people will get sick with Active TB Disease. People develop Active TB Disease when their immune system can no longer control the MTB growing inside their body. People with Active TB Disease are more likely to spread TB to people they spend time with every day, including family members, friends, coworkers, and classmates. Active TB Disease is treatable and curable; however, people can die if they do not receive proper medical treatment.
