Salt Lake Valley Health Department
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Infectious Disease Tuberculosis Program
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease primarily of the lungs. It is airborne and spread when someone with active TB disease coughs, laughs or sings.
To control the spread of TB in Salt Lake County, the TB Program works with local hospitals, community agencies, private medical providers and Utah Department of Health TB Program to:
- Identify and treat TB disease;
- Identify, evaluate, and treat newly infected contacts to infectious TB cases;
- Screen and treat high-risk populations for TB infection.
- The TB Program provides screening, evaluation, and case management to accomplishing these goals.
Utah is a low risk state for TB with the majority of its cases being in Salt Lake County.
What is TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.
What Are the Symptoms of TB?
The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.
For more information on TB, view the Tuberculosis Fact Sheet.