Kentucky TB data are collected via the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System by all local health departments. All confirmed cases of TB meet the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists case definition.

Kentucky conducts enhanced surveillance on all suspected cases of TB. While suspected cases of TB are not reportable in the U.S., Kentucky presents this data in an additional report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a suspected case of TB as a person currently under TB disease evaluation for whom there is a high suspicion for active TB. High suspicion for active TB can be based on factors including known contact with a person with active TB or showing signs or symptoms consistent with TB.

Disclaimer: All TB-related data are considered preliminary until finalized and released by CDC. Finalization of yearly data typically occurs late the following year. Case data for 2018 should be finalized in late 2019. All reports clearly identify whether the included data are preliminary or final in the heading of each page. 

How to Calculate the Burden of TB for Annual Facility Risk Assessments

Review the following metrics to assess the true burden of TB at your facility and assist with the completion of annual facility risk assessments:

1. Annual TB case rates for your county or district
2. Annual TB case rates for surrounding counties
3. Annual TB case rates for other counties served by your facility (i.e., patient catchment area)
4. Annual suspected cases of TB
5. Five-year average TB incidence
6. Ten-year average TB incidence