When it comes to tuberculosis, MCHD is here to help

Mar. 24, 2026

By Mary Wade Burnside

Back before Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, the disease killed 1 out of every 7 people living in the United States and Europe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The discovery took place on March 24, 1862, and the date has been memorialized as World Tuberculosis Day.
The potentially fatal disease that affects the lungs can be transmitted via coughing, sneezing and spitting, hence the move historically to outlaw the latter to prevent the spread of TB.
Throughout the years, “consumption” took the lives of many well-known people, including Eleanor Roosevelt, writers Henry David Thoreau and George Orwell, and actress Vivien Leigh, the latter three at relatively young ages.
More than 160 years after the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the statistics in the United States aren’t nearly as grim.
TB case numbers for 2025 aren’t available yet, notes Monica Cutlip, RN, who runs the tuberculosis program at Monongalia County Health Department.
There were 15 statewide in 2023 and eight in 2024, Cutlip said, with none of those eight in Monongalia County.
Even though TB isn’t as widespread as it once was, it still requires vigilance and monitoring to make sure it remains as contained as possible, with a goal of eliminating it.
One reason is because TB is much more common worldwide, and with international travel and immigration, the world has gotten a lot cozier than it used to be.
“A person may have an exposure after living in a country or spending more than two months in a country with a high burden of TB,” Cutlip said.
It’s also possible for healthcare workers to be exposed to TB through a patient, she added.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10.7 million individuals fall ill with tuberculosis every year, and a total of 1.23 million people died from TB in 2024. That included 150,000 people who also had HIV.
Globally, according to the WHO, TB is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and among the top 10 causes of death.
TB, however, is curable with screenings and a long course of antibiotics for those with active TB. Some employers require tuberculosis screenings prior to starting a job, Cutlip noted. There are different tests to determine if individuals have TB. Tuberculosis also can be latent or active, which can change the methods used for diagnosing.
At MCHD, our program complies and communicates with the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, part of the West Virginia Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services. We test individuals for TB and work with those with active TB while they receive mandatory treatment.
MCHD TB services include:
The Tuberculin skin test (TST),which involves injecting tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) into the inner surface of the forearm. This will result in a pale elevation, or induration, of the skin. A positive result will have an induration of 5mm or more. A negative result will appear flat, with no induration.
The tests are available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, ensuring that MCHD operates within the necessary timeframe for Cutlip to read the results.

TB blood test.
TB low-risk letter, which includes TB screening and documentation of low risk.
Chest X-rays for those who qualify. The Division of Tuberculosis Elimination will provide chest X-rays. TB is detected when opacities (white spots) and cavitations (lesions) are seen in the lungs. Cutlip can obtain X-ray orders from the state TB program and patients can take them to either WVU Medicine or Mon Health Medical Center for the test.
Physician evaluation.
Medications and monitoring. Individuals with active TB in Monongalia County will take medication under supervision. Previously, a TB nurse would travel to a patient’s home, but now monitoring can be done virtually.
Case investigation and follow-up.
MCHD also offers a robust International Travel Clinic, and it’s always good to schedule a visit before big trips to get vaccines and travel advice for the specific area where you will be visiting. This includes ones with high incidence of TB and other diseases, such as rabies and yellow fever, that are more prominent in specific countries than here.
Check out Monongalia County Health Department’s website at www.monchd.org/services/tuberculosis-program for more information and call 304-598-5119 to make an appointment.

Mary Wade Burnside is the public information officer at Monongalia County Health Department.