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Web Letter for Passengers

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XDR TB in Traveler

Dear Passenger or Flight Crew Member:

A person with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) traveled on an airline flight you may have taken in May 2007:

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB and XDR TB are spread the same way, but XDR TB is resistant to almost all of the drugs commonly used to treat TB disease. The general symptoms of TB disease include cough, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. When a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or speaks, TB germs may be expelled into the air and can remain airborne for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection (LTBI).

This is the first investigation of a case of XDR TB during air travel. Due to the serious nature of this strain of TB disease, CDC is recommending that all U.S. residents and citizens on either of these flights receive evaluation and testing for TB infection. Passengers who were most at risk were those sitting two rows in front and two rows behind the patient.

If you were a passenger or flight crew member on either of the two flights listed above, we strongly recommend that you complete these steps at your earliest convenience:

1. See your physician or local health department and request TB testing. Bring documentation of travel history for the flight and health history with you.

2. Receive TB testing, which should include an evaluation of signs and symptoms of TB, a TB skin test or the QuantiFERON®TB Gold blood test (QFT-G) to test for TB infection, and possibly a chest x-ray.

3. If needed, return to your healthcare provider for a second TB test 8–10 weeks following your flight date (i.e., the time of your last possible exposure to the patient).

4. Keep a copy of your test results for your records. If you ever experience any signs or symptoms of TB disease in the future (regardless of your test result), see a physician promptly and explain that you were possibly exposed to a person with XDR TB.

Many persons born outside of the United States receive a vaccine called BCG (Bacille-Calmette Guerin) to prevent development of TB disease; however, we still recommend that persons who received BCG vaccination should be tested for TB.

For inquiries related to this investigation or questions regarding payment for TB testing, please go to State TB Control Offices.

For more information about XDR TB, please see these links:

• Get the Facts About TB Disease (PDF - 430K)

• What you Need to Know About the TB Skin Test (PDF - 202K)

• Protect your Family and Friends from TB (PDF - 1027K)

• Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB)

We greatly appreciate your assistance on this important international XDR TB contact investigation.

Last Reviewed: 05/18/2008
Content Source: Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

 
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Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
Attn: Content Manager, DTBE Web site
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