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Recent media reports concerning a passenger with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) who flew on two international flights have heightened the public’s concern and awareness of this disease. XDR TB is a rare type of TB that is resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, quinolones, and at least one of three second-line injectable agents (amikacin, kanamycin, and capreomycin). In the U.S., 49 other cases of XDR TB have been reported since 1993. Although little documented information is available about this most recent case, we know that the sputum samples from this individual were “smear negative” (i.e., the acid-fast bacteria stains were negative but the culture was positive), indicating that his likelihood of being contagious is low. CD…