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Foreign visitor who receives a
TB diagnosis in the United
States, is receiving anti-TB
therapy, and has been, or plans
to remain, in the country for
90 days or more
Count in the area in which he/she lived
at the time that the TB diagnostic
evaluation was performed or initiated
Enter city, county,
and ZIP Code of
current residence
Foreign visitor who receives a
diagnosis of TB in the United
States, is receiving anti-TB
therapy, and has been, or plans
to remain, in the country for
less than 90 days
Should not be included in the count of
TB cases in the United States.
Enter city, county,
and ZIP Code of
current residence
Other People Entering the United States
Receives a diagnosis of TB
before arriving in the United
States
Should not be included in the count of
TB cases in the United States. Submit it
as a noncountable case because the case
is considered to have occurred in
another country, even if therapy is
continued or completed in the United
States.
Enter city, county,
and ZIP Code of
current residence
Comment: People Entering the United States
For additional information on immigrants, refugees, permanent resident aliens, border crossers, and
foreign visitors see Appendix B – Recommendations for Reporting and Counting Tuberculosis Cases.
Guidelines for classifying transfer cases
A total of 60 areas are responsible for reporting cases of TB to CDC. These reporting areas are the 50
states, the District of Columbia, New York City, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Federated States of
Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Because of the additional (follow-up)
reporting requirements for expanded surveillance, specific instructions are necessary for the completion
of forms for patients who move within a reporting area and for those who move from one reporting area
to another during treatment.
•
To minimize the number of TB patients who are lost to follow-up, update the patient’s street
address regularly during treatment.
•
Periodically, ask patients whether they anticipate moving so that arrangements can be made to
maintain continuity of care and ensure submission of follow-up RVCTs. Encourage patients who
anticipate moving to report their new address, so that necessary patient information can be
forwarded to health care providers, and to the TB control program in the area to which the patient
is moving. Health departments should use the National TB Controllers Association (NTCA)
Interjurisdictional Tuberculosis Notification and Follow-up forms to notify TB control program
staff in another reporting area that a TB patient is moving to their area.
Communication between TB control programs to ensure continuity of care and submission of
follow-up reports regarding a patient who is moving from one area to another should be
conducted as efficiently and securely as possible (e.g., telephone, e-mail, fax, express courier).