Thread: California TB cases on rise while public-health funds cut

California TB cases on rise while public-health funds cut
By Susan Abram, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 03/13/2008 10:23:52 PM PDT


Tuberculosis cases steadily increased in 22 California areas last year, including Ventura County, as federal and state funding cuts hampered prevention and detection, officials said.

While cases of TB continue to decrease statewide and in Los Angeles County, health experts with the American Lung Association cautioned that the public remains at risk, especially if funding continues to shrink for services that provide screening, treatment and follow-up.

"An estimated 2 million Californians are infected with the bacteria that causes TB ... and most don't know they are infected," said Gwendolyn Young, chairwoman for the American Lung Association of California.

The state has allocated more than $9.5 million for prevention efforts for the 2007-08 fiscal year, a 14 percent decrease from years past.

"If you look back historically, until the mid-1980s, TB was declining and there was a lot of talk about eliminating this disease," said Barbara Cole, a registered nurse and board member for the association.

In L.A. County, there were 885 tuberculosis cases confirmed in 2006, a 2.3$ 5 $7decrease from 2005 and an overall 60 percent decrease since 1992, a peak year when there were 2,198 cases.

But there is concern that cases could creep up again, said Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

"We are concerned about the slow reduction in funding from the federal government," he said. "We don't want to get into a situation where we are not adequately in control of it."

He said county funding for TB-related services dropped 17 percent from last year and there is an additional 10 percent cut in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget. In the past few years, 18 staff positions were eliminated, Fielding said.

Tuberculosis is caused by airborne bacteria that most often cling to lungs. It is spread from one person to another when the infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Still, wWith easy access to travel and more people coming to California from countries where treatment and screening are inadequate, there are continued risks.

"A high percentage (of people with TB) have immigrated here and were exposed in other countries," Fielding said. "We need to strengthen our advocacy among policymakers, to make them realize that this is not a disease that went away yesterday but has a significant presence today."

The heightened concern about TB rates and slashed funding has prompted local community groups and health experts to hold a first-of-its-kind forum set for Saturday, coordinated by Breathe California of Los Angeles.

"Tuberculosis is considered a biological hazard," said Romesh Anketell, coordinator of the Tuberculosis Coalition of Los Angeles County. "It seems that in the general public, TB doesn't get the kind of attention it deserves. You can see that in the funding it receives."

susan.abram@dailynews.com

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_8566991

OK let me get this right legal immigrants have health checks. Right? So if we have illegals from third world countries and NO health checks, there we have it. Some may have traveled legally and left the disease with us but if I were a betting woman, I would say most is coming from illegals coming into the country without health checks.

I think your right Gogo, and I assume it will only get worse. We haven't seen anything yet.

ILLEGALS STRIKE AGAIN.

Still, With easy access to travel and more people coming to California from countries where treatment and screening are inadequate, there are continued risks.

Would that be illegal people, from 3rd world countries.