World TB Day is celebrated each March 24, commemorating the anniversary of the day in 1882 when Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) World TB Day Digital Media Toolkit to prepare messaging, share resources, or host a virtual event.

COVID-19 has introduced new challenges to TB work across the United States and across the globe. We dive into this issue in last week’s episode of NACCHO’s Podcast from Washington. NACCHO spoke with Tuberculosis Control Officer at Seattle & King County Public Health Dr. Masa Narita as well as Country Director with the CDC Division of Global HIV/AIDS in Zambia Dr. Simon Agolory. Both guests discussed World TB day and how the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted TB prevention and control efforts both globally and domestically.

Finally, the CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champions project recognizes organizations and individuals who have made meaningful contributions to end TB in their communities. Local health departments represented eight champions selected this year. Links to the local health department TB champions are below. You can read about all the champions here.

• Breathe Easy South Texas (B.E.S.T) Project – San Antonio, Texas
• Gerald Barnett, Contact Investigation/Special Populations Supervisor, Dallas County Health and Human Services, Texas
• Harris County Public Health Tuberculosis Elimination Program, Texas
• Housing for Health, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
• Jefferson County Department of Health TB Program, Alabama
• New York City Bureau of Tuberculosis Control (BTBC) Telehealth Team
• San Diego County TB Elimination Initiative (TBEI), County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services
• Texas TB Programs Supporting TB Services Along the Texas/Mexico Border- Harlingen, TX

For more information on World TB Day visit: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/worldtb...