What We’re Reading — World TB Day Edition

Tomorrow is World TB Day, a day to think about how far we have come and how much further we have to go.  Come back tomorrow for our post on World TB Day.  In the mean time, this is what we’re ready about tuberculosis.

• U.S. TB infections drop to record low: CDC — Here’s the good news: Cases of tuberculosis in the United States fell 6.4% in 2011 to an all-time low. A hand-washed high-five! But… we did have a goal of eliminating TB all together so we didn’t accomplish that. The issue has to do with cases among foreign-born individuals.
• Virginia Department of Health credits prevention programs in tuberculosis decline — Keeping ahead of the national average, Virginia’s Department of Health proudly announced that their TB rate dropped 17.5% between 2010-2011.  And they credit prevention programs for the decrease.  Virginia is for [prevention] lovers!
• Drug-resistant TB blamed on Indian treatment flaws — Big news lately has been around drug-resistant TB in India.  This is not good news for any nation in the world.  Now word is that failures in the treatment system is to blame for this problem.  My fellow Americans, if you haven’t hugged your public health system today, now is the time.  See the previous articles if you need a reminder why you should hug your public health system.