Tuberculosis Outbreak Associated With Delayed Diagnosis and Long Infectious Periods in Rural Arkansas, 2010-2018.

Objectives: During 2010-2018, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 21 genotype-matched cases of tuberculosis (TB) among residents of a rural county in Arkansas with a low incidence of TB and in nearby counties. The Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated to determine the extent of TB transmission and provide recommendations for TB control.

Methods: We reviewed medical and public health records, interviewed patients, and reviewed patients' social media posts to describe patient characteristics, identify epidemiologic links, and establish likely chains of transmission.