CDC launches TB website

Many people think that tuberculosis (TB) is not the serious disease that we once associated with sanatoriums and many deaths. And while that is true, in Arkansas, we still lose citizens to TB each year. In 2011, 13 of the 85 people diagnosed with TB in Arkansas died. TB is the leading killer of people who are HIV infected. These numbers are particularly distressing because if diagnosed and properly treated the lives of those infected can be saved and the spread of the disease to others can be prevented.

While progress has been made in Arkansas and the United States there are still many countries where TB is a serious problem. There are almost 2 million TB-related deaths worldwide each year. That is why it is particularly important that we stay vigilant and educate the medical community and the people who move to the United States from other countries on the risks of TB. To help educate Arkansans and others who do not speak English about the continuing toll that TB takes on us all, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is announcing a new Spanish website that is filled with information about Tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control. To get to the site, go to http://www.cdc.gov/tb/esp/

The site includes a variety of basic TB information on testing, treatment, and exposure. All information is translated into Spanish. In addition, the TB website includes fact sheets, publications and podcasts.