FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2005

HEALTH DEPARTMENT OBSERVES WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY MARCH 24th

In recognition of the fact that tuberculosis (TB) is continuing to be an epidemic out of control in much of the world, the Westchester County Department of Health joins with the global community in observing World Tuberculosis Day tomorrow, March 24^th.

“Worldwide, tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death from infectious disease,” stated Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Commissioner of Health for Westchester County. “An estimated two billion people, who account for one-third of the world’s population, are infected with the bacteria that cause TB. Each year, approximately nine million people become ill from TB and, of these, two million die as a result.”

“Although Westchester County and the United States have low rates of tuberculosis, a number of recent trends bolster the importance of continuing to maintain vigilance and strengthen efforts to control the spread of this serious disease,” continued Dr. Lipsman. “Outside of New York City, Westchester County has among the highest numbers of active tuberculosis cases in New York State. Although new tuberculosis cases in Westchester County have been stable for the past several years, infections caused by strains that are drug-resistant remain a problem. In addition, an increasing number of infections appear to be occurring in otherwise healthy members of the general public – school teachers, childcare providers, housekeepers, retail store and healthcare workers. For the first time in many years, infectious tuberculosis occurred in a U.S. born Westchester County high school student in 2004.”

During 2004, over 2,000 individuals in Westchester County were identified as having had significant exposure to persons with infectious tuberculosis. These individuals were at risk for becoming infected with TB and as a result, required medical evaluation.

To raise public awareness about the devastating effects of the disease, the Health Department has created a special World TB Day section on its website, www.westchestergov.com/health , where information about tuberculosis and links to TB related resources can be found.
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WORLD TB DAY PG. 2

Since 1992, rates of new TB cases in Westchester have decreased. From 1998 until the present, the number of new TB cases each year has been the lowest experienced in Westchester since the early 1980’s, but the low numbers have stopped going down. Tuberculosis incidence in Westchester County averages 6-7 cases per 100,000 residents and is higher than the national average of 5 per 100,000 residents. Only five states (including New York State and Washington D.C.) had higher incidence rates of tuberculosis in 2003 than Westchester County.

The treatment of tuberculosis is lengthy and complex. Most cases require that patients be treated with up to four drugs for a period of six to nine months. An increasing number of cases are requiring longer treatment. A major challenge to combating the disease is ensuring that those who are infected complete their full course of treatment.

Through the Health Department’s TB Control Program, directly observed therapy (where a health care worker watches the patient take each dose of medicine) is provided to all active tuberculosis cases to make certain that each patient completes his or her course of therapy. The Program also places high priority on early identification and treatment of cases, as well as aggressive tracing to find and assess people who may have been exposed. In addition, through its TB clinics, the Health Department provides direct medical care and medications to individuals with tuberculosis infection and disease.

Tuberculosis is a disease that is spread from person to person through the air. TB usually infects the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body also.

General symptoms of TB may include feeling weak or sick, weight loss, fever and/or night sweats. Symptoms of TB of the lungs may include cough, chest pain and/or coughing up blood. A skin test is the only way to tell if a person has been infected with tuberculosis before he actually comes down with the illness. If a person’s skin test indicates that he or she has been infected with tuberculosis, an individual can be treated to prevent that person from developing an active case of tuberculosis. In most cases, this means that the person takes a single medication for several months to prevent tuberculosis. Ask your doctor whether you should have a skin test for tuberculosis infection.

For more information about tuberculosis, or the tuberculin skin test, call the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or visit www.westchestergov.com/health.

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