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• TB Update Last month’s report contained information regarding the UNC undergraduate student who was diagnosed with active TB after routine testing. It was later determined that the student had volunteered at a local middle school. After letters were sent to the parents advising that their children be tested, there were still children who did not receive a skin test. In order to eliminate testing barriers, the CD team arranged for onsite testing at the school. All 13 children who had not yet been tested received skin tests with consent forms signed by their parents. All 13 were read, resulting in a 100% completion rate of first round testing. The CD team is calling all parents again in preparation for the next round of testing which will take place December 1. We are following guidance that states that all contacts have to be tested twice, with the second test performed 8 – 12 weeks after last known exposure. Tests will be read on Monday Dec 4. The CD team is going to the school again to make it easier for the children. If parents choose to get the second round of testing done somewhere else, they have until the winter break to return documentation to the school nurse. • Staff Recognitions Congratulations to Ashley Rawlinson for being voted in and awarded the 2017 - 2018 position of Vice - President for NC SOPHE (Society of Public Health Education)! The Vice - President will also serve as the Chair for the Program Committee, which is responsible for planning the 2018 NC SOPHE Annual Meeting. Donna King received her thirty year service pin from NCPHA in September. • Public Health PHield Trip On November 10, 2017, the health department hosted approximately 40 public health students for the annual Practice Pathways PHIeld Trip. Donna King recruited staff volunteers to pair up with teams of students and compete in a trivia game, answering questions about various services of the health department. Teams walked from West Campus to Whitted stopping in to see restaurant grades, local media, smoke-free public places signage, and other examples of public health practices. Teams toured the Dental and Medical clinics and learned that just telling someone how to be safe and healthy isn’t as easy as it looks. By competing in a condom relay, students learned a bit more about what it takes to respond correctly and consistently under pressure—they struggled with being shy, embarrassed, and unsure. They will have a lot to consider and reflect upon when practicing public health in the future.