The shift from tuberculosis (TB) control to TB elimination requires enhanced and new prevention methods. Travel to countries with high rates of disease is associated with increased rates of TB disease and latent infection. This is of particular concern because of the high risk of active disease following new infection.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that travelers “who anticipate possible prolonged exposure to tuberculosis” should undergo tuberculin tests before and after travel, while those “who anticipate repeated travel with possible prolonged exposure or an extended stay over a period of years in an endemic country” should undergo baseline two-step tuberculin testing, with subsequent annual tests if negative at baseline.

In the past five years, the Southern Nevada Health District has investigated TB exposures in educational settings, and three child care/group care facilities of which 93 percent of the educational setting exposures were large and extensive (range 99-400) contact investigations. The Health District plans to use this survey to identify at-risk travelers and recommend the screening and follow-up for students, teachers, and those who work in public settings.