March 24, 2017

Contact:
Heidi Moore
CHD16MediaRequests@flhealth.gov

904-253-1010

Jacksonville, Fla. — Today the Florida Department of Health in Duval (DOH-Duval) joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recognizing World TB Day, which commemorates the discovery of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). This year’s theme is “United to End TB” and eliminating tuberculosis in Florida remains a priority for the department.

“World TB Day is designed to build public awareness that there remains a tuberculosis epidemic in much of the world,” said Dr. Kelli Wells, Director of the DOH-Duval.  “Duval County is working with all community partners to move towards the elimination of TB.”

Tuberculosis is one of the world’s deadliest diseases and it is caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis that usually attacks the lungs, but can attack any part of the body, including the kidney, spine and brain. Latent TB can live within the body without making you sick. People with latent TB do not have symptoms, are not infectious and cannot make others sick.

TB is spread through the air and symptoms of the disease include:

• A bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer;
• Pain in the chest;
• Coughing up blood or sputum; and
• Weakness or fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever and sweating at night.

Through its statewide TB program and its support of the Florida System of Tuberculosis Care, the Florida Department of Health is making significant strides towards its goal to eliminate TB in the state. Cases of TB in Florida have gone down by 35 percent from 988 cases in 2007 to 639 in 2016.  During the same time period, Duval reported 71 cases in 2007 and 52 in 2016, a decrease of 27%. The department has implemented improved testing and treatment technologies, making it easier for clients to successfully complete therapy.

To prevent the transmission of TB amongst the homeless population in Duval County area shelters, the Florida Department of Health, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Bureau of Communicable Diseases, TB Control Section; DOH-Duval, and the Center for Pulmonary Services, Jacksonville, Florida have implemented a Shelter Card program.

The Shelter Card Program is a system of routine testing and assessment of the county's homeless clients seeking admittance to area shelters. The clients must have a current "shelter" card that indicates they have been tested (annually) and assessed by DOH-Duval for symptoms of TB within the last 2 months.

To explore resources relating to TB and learn more, visit the department’s website. For additional information about World TB Day 2017, visit the CDC’s World TB Day page.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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