A County-Wide School Certification Program for Tuberculosis Control: Newton County, Missouri

The methods and results of the tuberculin skin testing program in Newton County, Missouri, are presented. All 48 schools in the county participated in the program; 6,064 school children and 437 school employees were tested. Among the school children, 205 positive reactors were found, giving a rate of 3.38 per cent. In the adults. 131 of 437 tested were positive, giving a rate of 30 per cent. Six new active cases of tuberculosis were detected, and 15 suspects are being studied. All 48 schools in the county became certified under the school certification program of the American School Health Association, with 31 schools receiving class “A” certificates and 17 schools receiving class “B” certificates. The program in Newton County was felt to be very successful.