Tuberculosis is preventable and treatable, and still cases persist—both here in Putnam County, and around the globe. This month the Putnam County Department of Health will recognize World TB Day by offering free tuberculin skin tests at their office on Tuesday, March 28, with follow-up appointments on Thursday, March 30. The two-step process involves a skin test performed with the small amount of tuberculin placed under the skin, followed by evaluation by a nurse. The person must return two days later to have a nurse view the skin site for a reaction. World TB Day, officially March 24, is a day intended to bring awareness and action to this highly contagious respiratory illness.

The bacteria responsible for causing TB can live in the body for years without symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Without treatment, inactive TB, also called latent TB infection, can become active disease at any time and make a person sick. Once TB becomes active, it can spread from person to person through the air.

Appointments for testing are encouraged and can be scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, between 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at 1 Geneva Road in Brewster. The number to call is 845-808-1390, extension 43140. Walk-ins will be accommodated as well, although the wait time may be longer. For those with positive results, further evaluation and treatment is available.

Eliminating TB has long been a public health goal. Rates of TB in the U.S. and globally were on the decline until the COVID-19 pandemic when an increase of cases was seen for the first time in over a decade.

The health department also offers routine TB testing, evaluation, and treatment services to Putnam residents throughout the year. Appointments are necessary for this year-round testing and can be made by calling the same health department number, 845-808-1390, ext. 43140.

Anyone with risk factors is encouraged by the health department to be tested. Risk factors include exposure to TB, immigration, or travel in a country where TB disease is endemic, such as Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, South and Central Americas. 

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community. The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), serves a community composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services are provided through a lens of equity, and include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit our County website at www.putnamcountyny.com, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.