Dear Colleague Letters
CDC announces Think. Test. Treat TB: a campaign to raise awareness of latent TB infection
March 15, 2022
Dear Colleagues,
Today, CDC launched Think. Test. Treat TB, the first national communications campaign to increase testing and treatment for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in the United States.
Eliminating TB in the United States requires expanding testing and treatment of latent TB infection. Up to 13 million people are living with latent tuberculosis infection in the United States. Without treatment, 5-10% of people with latent TB infection will develop TB disease. Yet, the notion that TB is no longer a problem persists. TB is also a disease of disparity, disproportionately impacting Asian American communities. TB is an important public health issue that needs to be addressed to build healthier communities and help achieve health equity.
The Think. Test. Treat TB campaign aims to raise awareness about latent TB infection, risk, and the link between latent TB infection and TB disease by encouraging Asian Americans and their healthcare providers to:
- Think about the risk factors and talk about TB
- Test for TB infection
- Treat latent TB infection to prevent the development of TB disease
The campaign will initially reach individuals born in Vietnam or the Philippines, currently living in the Los Angeles and Seattle areas, and their healthcare providers. Campaign materials are also available for use nationwide.
The Think. Test. Treat TB website has free resources in multiple languages, including TB messages, digital and print resources, social media content, patient and provider education materials, and a partner toolkit.
We encourage you to use the Think. Test. Treat TB resources in your communication and outreach efforts. Here are some ideas to help spread the word:
- Post Test. Treat TB messages and use the hashtag #ThinkTestTreat on social media.
- Share Test. Treat TB digital content, video public service announcement, and materials online.
- Use the sample articles to share Think. Test. Treat TB information with communities and healthcare providers in newsletters, emails, and other partner communications.
- Download, and distribute free education materials for patients and healthcare providers.
- Educate communities at risk and healthcare providers at meetings, health fairs, conferences, and other events.
For more information about this campaign, visit www.cdc.gov/thinktesttreattb and follow our activities on Twitter and Facebook. If you have any questions, please contact tbinfo@cdc.gov.
Sincerely,
Philip LoBue, MD, FACP, FCCP
Director
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention