Modified: March 21, 2019 2:50pm
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PRESS RELEASE
From the Office of the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale R. Burstein
Date: MARCH 21, 2019
CONTACT: Kara Kane, Public Information Officer
Email: kara.kane@erie.gov
“IT’S TIME” TO END TUBERCULOSIS
March 24 Marks World TB Day
ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is promoting World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, and sharing the CDC theme for 2019: “It’s Time to End TB.”
Tuberculosis cases in New York State and the United States have shown a steep drop over the past 20 years. From 1997 to 2017, reported cases nationwide decreased 54 percent. This steady decrease is the result of stringent surveillance, monitoring and treatment programs in every county. 
Despite continued efforts, TB cases still appear in our community. The New York State Department of Health and ECDOH have a robust program in place to identify individuals with TB, monitor their progress with treatment and limit exposure.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outline four approaches to eliminating TB: surveillance, better diagnostics and treatment, testing and treatment of high-risk populations, and education of medical professionals,” said Dr. Gale R. Burstein, Erie County Commissioner of Health. “The Department of Health conducts TB surveillance, treatment and outreach to healthcare providers, emergency departments and urgent care centers. We are fortunate to have committed partners in the medical community to identify patients in need of TB care and effectively link to ECDOH.”
Erie County’s Tuberculosis Clinic, located at the Jesse Nash Health Center at 608 William Street in Buffalo, takes referrals from hospitals and doctor’s offices for potential active TB cases and for individuals who have latent TB exposure. In 2018 the TB Clinic evaluated 198 people for TB and treated 13 people for active disease.
Public health professionals and medical practitioners across the country are taking part in the CDC-sponsored World TB Day campaign and its associated photo challenge. Follow #EndTB on Twitter for images and messages that focus on ending TB.
Tuberculosis Symptoms
• Low-grade fever
• Night sweats
• Weakness and fatigue
• Weight loss
• A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
• Pain in the chest
• Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
For more information:
Erie County Department of Health Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program: http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=tuberculosis-tb
TB Clinic phone: (716) 858-7687
Erie County Health Department: http://www.erie.gov/health
CDC web site: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/default.htm
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