Final answer:
The most important reason for notifying the public health department when a client is diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) is to trace and screen contacts. This helps prevent further transmission of the disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most important reason for notifying the public health department when a client is diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) is 2. Contacts need to be traced and screened.
When a case of TB is reported, it is crucial for the health department to identify and track down individuals who have been in close contact with the infected person. These contacts need to be screened for TB infection and, if necessary, treated to prevent further transmission of the disease.
Notifying the public health department is also important for disease surveillance and maintaining statistics on the incidence of tuberculosis.