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Contact:
Andrew Weisser, (818) 703-6444
aweisser@earthlink.net
or your local American Lung Association at (800) LUNG-USA
www.californialung.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2003
Although Slight Decrease in Tuberculosis Cases in California, American Lung Association of California Cautions Against Relaxing Prevention Efforts on World TB Day, March 24
Case Increases Experienced in Alameda, Imperial, Kern, Long Beach, Madera, Merced, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare and Ventura
Editors Note: County-specific tuberculosis statistics are available through the American Lung Association of California’s web site, at http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/tb_data01-02.html and/or by contacting the American Lung Association at the above numbers.
Related news conferences will be held as follows on Monday, March 24:
San Francisco: 10 a.m., Chinatown Public Health Center, 1490 Mason St.
San Jose: 11 a.m., 2400 Moorpark Ave., Rm. 210
(Oakland, CA, March 24, 2003) -- As public health advocates worldwide prepare to mark March 24 as World TB Day, the American Lung Association of California called on the State of California to avert a resurgence of tuberculosis in this state by increasing funding for tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control efforts.
California continues to report the highest number of TB cases in the United States. Case increases were experienced last year in Alameda, Imperial, Kern, Long Beach, Madera, Merced, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare and Ventura.
The rate of tuberculosis (TB) in California dropped in 2002 to 8.9 cases per 100,000 residents. A total of 3,169 cases of TB were reported in the state in 2002, compared to 3,332 in 2001 when cases had risen 1 percent. After a resurgence of TB in the late 1980s, the public health network was renewed and cases declined from the 5,382 reported at the height of the California epidemic in 1992 until 2001.
Even though the cases declined slightly statewide, wide disparities continue in the rates of TB among California’s racial and ethnic groups: the rate for Asians/Pacific Islanders is 29.9 per 100,000 individuals; for African-Americans it is 11.6 per 100,000; the rate for Hispanics is 11.2 per 100,000; for American Indian/Alaskan Native it is 3.8 per 100,000; and for White, Non-Hispanic, 1.8 per 100,000.
The statewide theme for World TB Day this year is, "TB or Not TB, There is a Choice." The California TB Controllers Association chose this theme to emphasize the fact that TB is curable and preventable, and that California can make the choice to eliminate this disease.
"When government makes it a priority and funds the necessary control efforts, the TB rates decline. When the government does not make this investment in public health, we experience a resurgence," said Barbara Cole, RN, MSN, PHN, a volunteer board member of the American Lung Association of California and chair of its Tuberculosis Technical Advisory Group.
Historical state and federal government budget cuts resulted when it was perceived that TB was no longer a threat. This lead to a TB disease resurgence throughout California in the early 1990’s. Funding was replaced and a steady decline of TB rates in latter part of the decade resulted. Now, however, state funding is in jeopardy again.
In FY 2001-2002, $400,000 was cut from the State TB Control Local Assistance Budget. These cuts have not been restored and these and other potential future cuts could dramatically increase the number of people exposed to and diagnosed with TB, while decreasing the ability to adequately respond to outbreaks.
While acknowledging that California is facing a serious budget shortfall, the American Lung Association of California believes that delaying the restoration of these important local TB funds may put the state at risk for enormous future health expenditures should a serious TB outbreak occur.
TB is transmitted through the air when an individual with active TB coughs or talks. Anyone inhaling air containing the TB bacteria may become infected. Patients with latent TB infection can be treated to prevent progression to active TB disease. It takes six months or more for appropriate medications to cure active TB disease.
Inappropriate or incomplete therapy can lead to TB patients developing and spreading strains of multidrug resistant TB, which means the germs are resistant to the best available drugs. Multidrug resistant TB can be untreatable and has been listed by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a possible agent of bioterrorism. Multidrug resistant TB cases rose 60 percent from 2001.
TB is a preventable, treatable disease. However, TB has reached epidemic levels worldwide. An estimated one-third of the world’s population (2 billion people) carry latent TB infection. Each year, approximately 8 million new cases occur and nearly 2 million people die from the disease globally. TB is the leading cause of death for people with AIDS and the leading cause of maternal mortality.
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The American Lung Association has been fighting lung disease for more than 90 years. With the generous support of the public and the help of our volunteers, we have seen many advances against lung disease. However, our work is not finished. As we look forward to our second century, we will continue to strive to make breathing easier for everyone. Along with our medical section, the California Thoracic Society, we provide educational programs, community service, advocacy and research. The American Lung Association’s activities are supported by Holiday Seals and other voluntary contributions. For more information, visit our web site at www.californialung.org or call 1.800.LUNG.USA to be connected to your local American Lung Association.
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