News Release                   For Immediate Release

March 12, 2003

March 24 is World TB Day

§         Did you know that over one half of the TB cases in Canada live in Toronto?

§         Did you know that one in three people in the world test positive to tuberculosis?

§         Did you know that someone dies of TB every 10 seconds?

§         Did you know that there are tuberculosis cases even in Grey & Bruce?

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs. It can be spread through close, prolonged or regular exposure to someone with active TB disease in the lung and who is coughing.

Symptoms of pulmonary TB may include a cough that lasts longer than three weeks, fever, night sweats, weight loss, coughing up blood, and fatigue.

Having a tuberculosis skin test from your family physician can determine whether you have been exposed to the TB bacteria.  It consists of an injection just under the skin of your forearm and checking for any swelling at the site where the injection was given 48-72 hours later.  If there is swelling about the size of a dime or greater it would be considered significant and the person would need to have a chest X-ray to rule out active tuberculosis disease.  A positive skin test would indicate the person has been exposed to TB at some time during their life.

Hospitals, nursing homes and homes for aged, daycares and correctional institutions are required to perform TB skin testing on staff prior to employment and at certain times depending on the setting.  Also, residents of long-term care facilities are to have TB skin testing at the beginning of their stay there.

Antibiotic treatment is provided for 6-12 months for those with tuberculosis.

Over eight million people develop active TB every year.

ONTARIO FACTS:

§         700 cases of active TB are reported each year.

§         This accounts for 40% of all Canadian TB cases.

§         More than 80% of cases are foreign-born.

§         Greater than 17% are resistant to at least one anti-TB drug.

§         2% have multi-drug resistance.

World TB Day, March 24^th, highlights the importance of identifying and treating people with tuberculosis.  Until TB is eradicated worldwide, it will continue to be an issue, even in Grey & Bruce Counties.

For further information call Public Health at 376-9420 or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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For more information:

Dr. Hazel Lynn

Medical Officer of Health

Grey Bruce Health Unit

376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456