Tuberculosis is caused by TB bacteria, which can reproduce and spread in your body, damaging tissue. The bacteria can attack any part of the body, but most often affect the lungs.
People with active tuberculosis disease usually feel sick and have weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. People with tuberculosis of the lungs usually also have a cough and chest pain and may cough up blood. Symptoms of tuberculosis disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.
People who have tuberculosis in their lungs can spread the bacteria to other people. It usually takes many hours in close contact with someone with tuberculosis disease to become infected.
People with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) have dormant tuberculosis bacteria in their body. They do not feel sick and cannot spread the infection to others. However, people with LTBI need to receive treatment to prevent the disease from becoming active.
More information about tuberculosis is available from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Testing for tuberculosis
There are two ways to test for tuberculosis. You can get a Mantoux/Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test. If you want the test, talk to you medical provider, visit a nearby minute clinic or check out our 
list of community testing clinics in the area.
Unlike the IGRA blood test, which only requires one visit, TSTs require two appointments. An appointment for the place placement, and the other to read the results. The IGRA blood test is the preferred standard for TB infection testing because it is more specific than the TST and it is not affected by prior BCG vaccination. Many public health guidelines recommend IGRA testing over TST for improved accuracy and convenience.
Currently, Dakota County Public Health does not offer tuberculosis testing.
Reporting active or presumed active TB
A confirmed or presumed active TB case must be reported to the Minnesota Department of Health within one working day of identification. Both pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms of TB disease are reportable.
To report a confirmed or suspected case of TB disease, call the TB Prevention and Control Program at 651-201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414 or fax 1-800-296-0993. To ensure timely public health follow-up measures, report all TB cases by telephone or fax and not by mail.
Latent TB infection referrals
Dakota County Public Health does not have a dedicated TB clinic. Dakota County residents with a latent TB infection diagnosis qualify for county case management if they have been:
- Exposed to verified active TB disease within the last 2 years
- Are a child 5 years old or younger
- Are highly immunocompromised
- Have had a TB test conversion within a 2-year period and are uninsured.
Uninsured people will be referred to a partner clinic for diagnosis and treatment. Dakota County Public Health will cover one follow-up visit. TB medication will be covered under the TB medication program for eligible people, or there will be an out-of-pocket cost at the pharmacy for ineligible people. People with insurance coverage should receive diagnosis and treatment from a primary provider.
Free TB medication program
The Minnesota Department of Health provides free medications for people with TB disease and eligible people with LTBI. Eligibility requirements can be found on the state's website. Ask your health care provider or call Public Health at 952-891-7500.