FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2019
Media Contact:
Britt Ehrhardt/Marianna Moles
Santa Clara County Public Health Department
Office: (408) 792-5155
[email protected]
Learn more about how you can help control the spread of tuberculosis, a curable and preventable disease
The California Department of Public Health has announced that 2,091 new cases of tuberculosis (TB) disease were identified in the state in 2018, an increase compared to the 2,059 cases reported in 2017. TB is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases and is one of the top ten causes of death globally, causing more deaths each year than HIV/AIDS. The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department’s Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program continues to advocate for increased testing and treatment of latent TB infection because treatment prevents people from developing TB disease. Latent TB infection means that an individual has the germ that causes TB, but it is not yet making them sick. Treatment of latent TB infection is essential to achieve a TB-free California. This year’s World TB Day (March 24, 2019) theme is: It’s Time!
More than 2,000 people are diagnosed with TB disease in California every year, consistently making up over 20 percent of all cases diagnosed across the nation. In California, 10 percent of those diagnosed with TB disease die. TB is preventable - by treating latent TB infection. Most individuals with latent TB infection have not been diagnosed and treated, have no symptoms and are not contagious, but without treatment they are at risk for becoming sick with TB disease in the future.
“It’s possible for anyone to get TB. Santa Clara County has the fourth highest rate of TB in California,” said Dr. Tara Perti, County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Assistant Health Officer and TB Controller. “If you have lived in or traveled to a country where TB is more common, or if you have been in close contact with someone with TB, or if you have a weakened immune system, get tested for latent TB infection. If you have a positive TB test, talk with your doctor about treatment— it’s the best way to protect yourself and your family.”
County of Santa Clara reported 169 new cases in 2018, a decrease from 186 cases in 2017. There are approximately 160,000 people in the county who have latent TB infection. The Public Health Department has an interactive story map that describes the ways our community is affected by TB. The California Tuberculosis Controllers Association provides an interactive map of California that provides 2018 TB data for all counties.
Symptoms of TB disease can include a cough for more than two to three weeks, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. When a person with TB disease coughs, people who share that same air can become infected as well.
People born outside of the United States continue to experience higher TB rates compared to their U.S.-born counterparts, with the highest rates in Santa Clara County found among residents born in the Philippines, Vietnam, India, and China. Others at high risk for TB include those who have traveled to or lived in a country with an elevated TB rate, have weakened immune systems, or have come in close contact to someone with infectious TB.
If you have a risk factor for TB or are unsure, ask your health care provider about testing and treatment to protect yourself and your family. A printable list of TB testing sites in Santa Clara County can be found on our website. TB screening and treatment are essential to eliminate TB.
It’s time to stop the spread of TB together. More information about TB in the County of Santa Clara can be found at www.sccphd.org/TBinfo.
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About the Santa Clara County Public Health Department
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department focuses on protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, disease and injury prevention, and the promotion of sound health policy.
To learn more about how the Public Health Department serves the people who live, work, study, and play in the County of Santa Clara, please visit our website, sccphd.org, and follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/sccpublichealth and Instagram, instagram.com/scc_publichealth.