It’s Time for a World TB Day Wrap-Up

On behalf of CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, thank you for everything that you did to make World TB Day 2019 a success! We hope that you were able to spread the “It’s Time to End TB” message in your communities. “It’s Time!” to take a look back on all the great activities during World TB Day 2019! World TB Day Congressional Briefing On March 27th, CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) Division Director Dr. Philip LoBue had the honor to present at the annual World TB Day congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., which is hosted by the American Thoracic Society, RESULTS, the National TB Controllers Association, and Treatment Action Group in cooperation with the U.S. House of Representatives TB Elimination Caucus.  Dr. LoBue presented an update about U.S. TB burden, and what is needed to move the United States closer to the goal of TB elimination. CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champions Project: For the past 4 years, the CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champions Project has provided an opportunity to recognize accomplishments and learn best practices from people who are making a significant contribution to preventing and controlling TB in the United States. In keeping with the 2019 U.S. World TB Day theme “It’s Time!” this year we issued a call for photo submissions from organizations or individuals that represent their work and commitment to the “It’s Time to End TB!” mission.

CDC is pleased to recognize 9 organizations and individuals working to end TB in their communities! • Florida Department of Health, Duval County • Kate O’Brien, We Are TB, TB Survivor • Laura Smock, MPH, Massachusetts Department of Public Health • Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands TB Program • Daria Szkwarko, DO, MPH, Assistant Professor, Brown University • Monroe County, New York, Department of Public Health TB Control • Neha Shah, MD, MPH, Project Director, TB Free California • Dr. Greg Stern, Health Officer for Whatcom County Public Health • We Are TB, TB Survivor Network

World TB Day Social Media Photo Challenge: This year we encouraged our TB partners and audiences to share their own “It’s Time” message. Participants could download a template, write their World TB Day message, take a picture, and post on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. It was great seeing so many people share their TB messages. Thank you to everyone who participated! World TB Day Twitter Storm: CDC’s #WorldTBDay Twitter Storm was Friday, March 22nd. We invited participants to tweet their own content and images related to specific TB messages at the appropriate time. The Twitter Storm was a success, with over 30,000 impressions and 400 engagements just from the @CDC_TB tweets alone! Thank you to everyone who participated. #WorldTBDay Instagram Takeover: For the second year in a row, TB took over @CDCgov Instagram and posted all TB content on March 22. Posts featured TB survivors, TB social media photo challenge, and TB Elimination Champions. The Instagram takeover resulted in over 2,000 engagements, and the World TB Day Instagram story received over 19,000 impressions! World TB Day Personal Stories: In December 2018, CEBSB and contract staff filmed four TB survivors as part of the ongoing TB Personal Stories series. In addition to filming their individual stories, we also produced six short World TB Day videos. Each survivor highlighted a World TB Day message that resonated with them and their TB experience, such as the need to strengthen TB education and awareness among health care providers, encouraging increased latent TB infection testing and treatment, and fighting the stigma that still surrounds TB. Thank you to Kelcie, Kristi, Laura, and Tenzin for sharing your stories. World TB Day Activities Map: World TB Day observances happened all around the United States and beyond. This year our activity map featured over 29 World TB Day activities taking place in 16 states and U.S. Territories, and 4 international events from 3 countries. Thank you to everyone who added their activity! World TB Day Event and Feature: DTBE and the Division of Global HIV & TB co-hosted a World TB Day event on March 25th. CDC leadership and TB subject-matter experts offered updates and comments, and we premiered World TB Day Personal Stories videos. Fun interactive activities included block printing, participation in the It’s Time social media campaign, a TB doses guessing game, and a TB Quiz! A joint World TB Day feature was also published on CDC’s website.  Lighting Up CDC in Red for World TB Day: This year on World TB Day the Stop TB Partnership launched a global challenge “Light up the World for TB”. TB partners were challenged to work with authorities in cities across the world to light up their landmarks in red to show their commitment towards ending TB. CDC participated by lighting in red the CDC Roybal campus main entrance on March 25th. Visit the CDC World TB Day website to learn more about all the 2019 activities. We look forward to another successful World TB Day in 2020!