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Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Statutory notification
Tuberculosis is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
See
notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB)
.
Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for
metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB)
or
regional residents (PDF 208KB)
.
For notification of regional residents see contact details of
public health units
.
See also description of
Statutory medical notifications in Western Australia
.
Public health management
Important information
Infectious agent:
Most commonly
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, occasionally
M. africanum
,
M. bovis
and
M. canettii
.
Transmission:
Predominantly air-borne. Direct inoculation of mucous membranes or broken skin is rare. Bovine tuberculosis is rare, but can be acquired from ingestion of unpasteurised milk or air-borne spread.
Incubation period:
4 weeks to many years.
Infectious period:
As long as live bacteria are in sputum. Effective treatment usually eliminates infectious risk within 2 – 4 weeks.
Case exclusion:
exclude until Medical Certificate of Recovery is obtained.
Contact exclusion:
Do not exclude.
Treatment:
Drug therapy is available and is coordinated through the
Western Australian Tuberculosis Control Program
.
Immunisation:
BCG vaccine available, although not routinely recommended.
Case follow-up:
is conducted by the Western Australian Tuberculosis Control Program.
Guidelines
Operational directives and policies relevant to tuberculosis can be found on the
Western Australian Tuberculosis Control Program
Guidelines for Tuberculosis control in Western Australia (PDF 1MB)
Communicable Disease Guidelines for teachers, child care workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners
Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Tuberculosis (external site)
Remember to think of tuberculosis when... (ppsx 1.82MB)
Think of TB: clinical education video (external site)
.
Notifiable disease data and reports
Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
General infectious disease reports
Last reviewed:
19-10-2023
Produced by
Public Health
Related links
Tuberculoisis (Healthy WA)