AUGUST 2020 | VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 The Coalition to End TB in Los Angeles County Newsletter Notes from the Road to End TB Our mission is to build a network of community partners, engaged in TB elimination activities. Our vision is knowledgeable and tuberculosis free communities in Los Angeles County. In This Issue Launched first issue of Coalition Newsletter Updated Shelter Guidelines now available 2019 TB Epidemiology fact sheet now available  TB News in Los Angeles County LAC DPH Health Advisory: Tuberculosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic LAC DPH Health Advisory: Rifapentine Shortage and Detection of Nitrosamine Impurity LAC DPH Health Advisory: Health Officer Order Requiring Diagnostic Testing Access  Take Action JOB ALERT: CTCA is hiring a Coalition Consultant. Check out the job description below. Complete the Coalition Newsletter Survey by October 1st. Upcoming meetings Next coalition meeting will be on Tuesday, October 13th from 10am-11:30am. Click here to register. All meetings will take place virtually for the remainder of 2020. Know a partner organization that would be a good fit for the coalition? Invite them to our next meeting! Click here to access the save-the-date.  Coalition General Update Due to COVID-19, we have transitioned to virtual meetings for the remainder of 2020. We are aware that some members have been reassigned to COVID-19 related activities and may not be able to participate at this time. If possible, consider sending someone in your place to represent your organization. We appreciate your continued support and commitment to staying connected with us. The Coalition to End TB in Los Angeles County has been hard at work developing a quarterly newsletter to keep members informed on important TB-related happenings that impact the communities we serve. We encourage members to stay connected with us during this time by sharing our newsletter and providing organizational updates. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 13th from 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. via Zoom. Click here to register. Los Angeles County TB Control Program Updates The TB Control Program recently updated their shelter guidelines for preventing and controlling TB and other Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) to help shelter service providers prepare their facility, staff, and clients for possible cases of ATDs. The document can be accessed on the TB Control Program website. Click here to view the document. The 2019 TB Epidemiology Factsheet is now available on the TB Control Program website. For 2019, 538 TB cases were verified which is a 1.9% increase from 2018 and a 5.2% increase from 2017. This increase reflects improved TB collaboration and coordination for TB case reporting. TB Control epidemiologists identified geographic targets for TB control, prevention and elimination by using GIS mapping techniques. Click here to view the document. The TB Control Program Health Education unit is assisting in the development of a TB/COVID-19 factsheet. This document will be translated into Korean. We are currently gathering feedback from members of the Korean population.  Los Angeles Health Alert Network (LAHAN) Updates Tuberculosis (TB) disease is endemic in Los Angeles County, and delays in TB diagnosis have been seen in patients with suspected, confirmed, or resolved COVID-19. It is essential that TB clinical care and control are continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, including evaluation and treatment of suspected or confirmed active TB disease; evaluation after significant exposure to infectious TB disease; and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) for high risk individuals. Read the full update here: LAC DPH Health Advisory: Tuberculosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic Treatment of LTBI is considered an essential health service during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers should consider temporarily refraining from initiating the once-weekly 3-month isoniazid-rifapentine (3HP) regimens until rifapentine shipments have resumed and local supplies of rifapentine have been reestablished. Read the full update here: LAC DPH Health Advisory: Rifapentine Shortage and Detection of Nitrosamine Impurity All healthcare facilities in Los Angeles County must have an established laboratory relationship for the provision of diagnostic (PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2 effective July 31, 2020 by order of the County Health Officer. Healthcare providers should visit the LAC DPH COVID-19 Provider website for up-to-date resources and guidance related to diagnostic testing and laboratory capacity. Read the full update here: LAC DPH Health Advisory: Heath Officer Order Requiring Diagnostic Testing Access. Treatment Action Group (TAG) Updates The Treatment Action Group reported that their advocacy efforts have doubled to include supplemental funding for TB programs and policies to ensure equitable access to medicines. TAG was also involved in grassroots outreach seeking funding from the World Health Organization for the TB/HIV Pre-Conference, specifically the International AIDS Conference Congressional briefing on access to medicines. For more info click here. BREATHE California of Los County Updates Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials are expressing major concern for the upcoming influenza (flu) season. On September 9th at 12pm, BREATHE LA will host a free Facebook Live "COVID-19, the Flu, and YOU" event. Join Dr. Reza Ronaghi, a pulmonary and critical and interventional pulmonologist at UCLA, and get the information you need. Please register for this free informational event here!  QIAGEN QIAGEN reported a 50-60% decrease in TB testing since the beginning of the year due to COVID-19 leading the organization to update their online resources to help raise awareness on the importance of TB testing healthcare personnel. In addition, QIAGEN developed a webpage that highlights “Global Efforts in the Fight Against Coronavirus.” For more information, click here to visit their website.  California TB Controllers Association (CTCA) Updates The California TB Controllers Association (CTCA) developing a “Share your Story” feature on their website with the goal of collecting personal stories from people affected by TB and sharing them on the CTCA platform. This project is still under development and more information will be shared once it becomes available. CTCA is looking for an experienced Coalition Consultant for the Coalition for a TB Free California. This short-term contracted professional will grow membership and leadership within the coalition, including statewide health care provider networks and associations, as well as community-based organizations leading and serving those most at risk for living with latent TB infection (LTBI) and developing TB disease. For more information, please contact Judith Thigpen, Executive Administrator for CTCA, at [email protected].  Resources California TB Controllers Association County of Los Angeles TB Control Program Center for Disease Control and Prevention, TB Education and Training Network Curry International TB Center Center for disease Control and Prevention, Division of TB Elimination  For more information For more information regarding recruitment, newsletter updates, coalition meetings, contact: Jose Rangel-Garibay, Health Educator, at [email protected] For more information regarding TB advocacy efforts, please contact: Raj Dhillon, Manager of Advocacy & Public Policy, at [email protected] Our Coalition Members ‌ ‌ ‌ Breathe California of Los Angeles County | 5858 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!