Notes from the Boat: Screening, Treating, and Preventing TB in the Remote Islands of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

What to know

  • Presentation Day/Time: Thursday, April 25, 1:55 pm
  • Presenter: Minal Ahson, MD, MSPH, DTMH, EIS officer assigned to the Global Health Center, Division of Global HIV and TB
Minal Ahson, MD, MSPH, DTMH

TED-Style Talks

TB active case finding requires significant planning and resources, but to implement this in a remote part of Micronesia required much more: teamwork, communication, resilience, and adventurousness.

The team of US-based volunteers, CDC staff, and local Chuuk TB staff traveled 21 hours by ship to remote islands to screen for both TB infection and disease. Treatment was initiated while we were there.

We worked in schools with minimal electricity by generator (that we brought with us). The local population was so accepting and generous with their time and resources.

The process of implementing this epidemiologic investigation would be interesting, emphasizing the human characteristics that are often not spoken about in an abstract or manuscript.

Field Photos

EIS officer Minal Ahson (Class of 2023) explains the result of a chest x-ray screening for TB to a patient in the Federated States of Micronesia, June 2024.
EIS officer Minal Ahson (Class of 2023) explains the result of a chest x-ray screening for TB to a patient in the Federated States of Micronesia, June 2024.
EIS officer Minal Ahson (Class of 2023) draws up a syringe of a TB skin test solution for use in TB active case finding in the Federated States of Micronesia.
EIS officer Minal Ahson (Class of 2023) draws up a syringe of a TB skin test solution for use in TB active case finding in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Abstract Category: TED-Style Talks

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Content Source:
About Public Health Infrastructure Center; Epidemic Intelligence Service