252.07 Tuberculosis.

680 words·~3 min read·/wi/chapter-252/252-07-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1g)In this section:

(a)“Infectious tuberculosis” means tuberculosis disease of the respiratory tract, capable of producing infection or disease in others as demonstrated by the presence of acid-fast bacilli in the sputum or bronchial secretions or by chest radiograph and clinical findings.

(b)“Isolate” means a population of mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that has been obtained in pure culture medium.

(c)“Isolation” means the separation from other persons of a person with infectious tuberculosis in a place and under conditions that prevent the transmission of the infection.

(d)“Suspect tuberculosis” means an illness marked by symptoms and laboratory tests that may be indicative of tuberculosis, such as a prolonged cough, prolonged fever, hemoptysis, compatible roentgenographic findings or other appropriate medical imaging findings.

(1m)Infectious tuberculosis and suspect tuberculosis are subject to the reporting requirements specified in s. 252.05 . Any laboratory that receives a specimen for tuberculosis testing shall report all positive results obtained by any appropriate procedure, including a procedure performed by an out-of-state laboratory, to the local health officer and to the department.

(1p)Any laboratory that performs primary culture for mycobacteria shall also perform organism identification for mycobacterium tuberculosis complex using an approved rapid testing procedure specified by the department by rule.

(1t)Any laboratory that identifies mycobacterium tuberculosis shall ensure that antimicrobial drug susceptibility tests are performed on the initial isolate. The laboratory shall report the results of these tests to the local health officer and the department.

(2)The department shall identify groups at risk for contracting or transmitting mycobacterium tuberculosis and shall recommend the protocol for screening members of those groups.

(5)Upon report of any person under sub.

(1m)or

(1t), the local health officer shall at once investigate and make and enforce the necessary orders. If any person does not voluntarily comply with any order made by the local health officer with respect to that person, the local health officer or the department may order a medical evaluation, directly observed therapy or home isolation of that person.

(a)The department or a local health officer may order the confinement to a facility of an individual who has a confirmed diagnosis of infectious tuberculosis or suspect tuberculosis if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The department or local health officer notifies a court in writing of the confinement.

2. The department or local health officer provides to the court a written statement from a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse that the individual has infectious tuberculosis or suspect tuberculosis.

Effective date note NOTE: Subd. 2. is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17 . Prior to 9-1-26 it reads:

Effective date text 2. The department or local health officer provides to the court a written statement from a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse prescriber that the individual has infectious tuberculosis or suspect tuberculosis.

3. The department or local health officer provides to the court evidence that the individual has refused to follow a prescribed treatment regimen or, in the case of an individual with suspect tuberculosis, has refused to undergo a medical examination to confirm whether the individual has infectious tuberculosis.

4. In the case of an individual with a confirmed diagnosis of infectious tuberculosis, the department or local health officer determines that the individual poses an imminent and substantial threat to himself or herself or to the public health. The department or local health officer shall provide to the court a written statement of that determination.

(b)If the department or local health officer orders the confinement of an individual under this subsection, a law enforcement officer, or other person authorized by the local public health officer, shall transport the individual, if necessary, to a facility that the department or local health officer determines will meet the individual’s need for medical evaluation, isolation and treatment.

(c)No individual may be confined under this subsection for more than 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, without a court hearing under sub.

(9)to determine whether the confinement should continue.