NAC441A.355. Active tuberculosis: Duties and powers of health authority.

     1. The health authority shall investigate each report of a case having active tuberculosis or suspected case considered to have active tuberculosis to confirm the diagnosis, to identify any contacts, to identify any associated cases, to identify the source of infection and to ensure that the case or suspected case is under the care of a health care provider who has completed a diagnostic evaluation and has instituted an effective course of medical treatment.

     2. The health authority shall, pursuant to NRS 441A.160, take all necessary measures within his or her authority to ensure that a case having active tuberculosis completes an effective course of medical treatment or is isolated or quarantined to protect the public health. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 441A.210, if the case or suspected case refuses to submit himself or herself for examination or medical treatment, the health authority shall, pursuant to NRS 441A.160, issue an order requiring the case or suspected case to submit to any medical examination or test which is necessary to verify the presence of active tuberculosis and shall issue an order requiring the isolation, quarantine or medical treatment of the case or suspected case if he or she believes such action is necessary to protect the public health.

     3. The health authority shall evaluate for tuberculosis infection any contact of a case having active tuberculosis. A tuberculosis screening test must be administered to a contact residing in the same household as the case or other similarly close contact. If the tuberculosis screening test is negative, the tuberculosis screening test must be repeated 8 to 10 weeks after the last date of exposure to the case having active tuberculosis. If the initial or second tuberculosis screening test is positive, the contact must be referred for a chest X ray and medical evaluation for active tuberculosis. Any contact found to have active tuberculosis or tuberculosis infection must be advised to complete an effective course of treatment in accordance with the recommendations for the counseling of and effective treatment for a person having active tuberculosis or tuberculosis infection in accordance with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as adopted by reference in paragraph (g) of subsection 1 of NAC 441A.200.

     4. A child or other high-risk contact whose initial tuberculosis screening test administered pursuant to subsection 3 is negative must be advised to take preventive treatment, unless medically contraindicated. Preventive treatment may be discontinued if the second tuberculosis screening test administered pursuant to subsection 3 is negative.

     5. The health authority may issue an order for a medical examination to any contact who refuses to submit to a medical examination pursuant to subsection 3, to determine if he or she has active tuberculosis or tuberculosis infection.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A by R084-06, 7-14-2006)