An Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in a Secondary School — Hubei Province, 2019

What is already known about this topic? Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a type of tuberculosis with resistance to common treatments such as isoniazid and rifampicin. MDR-TB is a major global health challenge and needs to be controlled tightly through prevention measures, early diagnosis, and full treatment and management. What is added by this report? This outbreak was the first MDR-TB related public health emergency in Hubei Province. In total, five MDR-TB cases and nine clinically diagnosed cases were identified within one class in a secondary school. Students and teachers from other classes were monitored, but no other cases were found. What are the implications for public health practice? The implementation of TB prevention and control measures in schools is important to increase knowledge on TB and to raise awareness on protecting personal wellbeing. The Automatic Early Warning Information System alerted the local health department and allowed for a timely response to prevent further disease spread.