Jackson County Department of Public Health, Sylva, NC

Communicable Diseases

The JCDPH has several objectives within our Communicable Disease program.  We must promptly investigate disease outbreaks and implement control measures to minimize further transmission of the disease.  We must monitor disease reporting by physicians and laboratories and report to the State Branch of Communicable Disease.  We provide a channel of communication between public health agencies, private physicians, and hospital and occupational infection control personnel.  Lastly, we explain public health interventions and disseminate health education messages to the community and the media in order to enhance disease control efforts.  There are approximately 80 diseases that are reportable to the State level from our Health Department.

Tuberculosis Clinic

The Tuberculosis Clinic is a service that provides diagnostic tests and treatment for all active cases of TB. The clinic is available to anyone with a positive skin test or who need diagnostic evaluation through chest x-ray or sputum test to determine their status.  There is no charge for this service.  Those who need a TB skin test for employment or other elective purposes will pay a nominal fee.

The appointment may include a skin test evaluation, a brief history and arrangements for chest x-ray. Lab work may include a sputum test.  All test results are sent to Raleigh for further evaluation.  Based on the recommendation of the contract TB physician, the patient may be placed on medication.  Those who are on medication for a nine-month period will require a monthly follow-up. In the follow-up visit patients will be examined for symptoms related to the medication and a blood test may be performed to check liver function.