In this issue...
Hurricane Katrina and Tuberculosis
Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center
Announcements
Recently, the CDC revamped the structure and number of TB training centers located in the United States. For several years, model centers, located in San Francisco, New Jersey and New York City have provided those working in TB control with products and training to assist in our activities. This past year, the centers have been reorganized and regionalized. The New York and New Jersey centers have been combined into one center, which will now serve the northeastern part of the country. The Curry Center in San Francisco will serve the western portion of the country. Two new centers, located in Texas and Florida, will serve the middle and southeastern portions of the country respectively.
Virginia has been assigned to the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center located in Gainesville, Florida. The center, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a collaborative effort of the CDC, the University of Florida, and the state Departments of Health in the Southeastern United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The purpose of the center is to support the education and training missions of the TB programs throughout the southeast and also to provide a source of expert medical consultation for providers caring for TB patients. Additional information on our new training center, its products and services will be forwarded as it becomes available.
The center has a web site located at: http://sntc.medicine.ufl.edu/index.htm You will notice that most of the site is currently under construction, but check back from time to time. This will be an up and coming resource for us.
The revised TB record forms are ready for use and are available at the following web site: http://vdhweb/std/TBmedrec.asp . In addition to the forms, a document entitled "Guidelines for Tuberculosis Record and Form Use" and sample forms are also posted. Any questions on the forms should be directed to Jane Moore at 804-864-7920 or jane.moore@vdh.virginia.gov .