TB Still a Threat across the Mid-Atlantic

Aug. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Many people in the United States think that TB is a disease of the past, but that unfortunately is not the case.  The Mid-Atlantic region of the country is no exception.  

In Delaware the Delaware Division of Public Health has an active TB Elimination Program.  The goals of the TB Elimination Program are to identify and treat all persons with active tuberculosis; to identify and treat infected contacts of persons with active tuberculosis; and to identify other persons with latent tuberculosis infection so that they can be evaluated and treated.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body including the kidney, spine and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.  TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria can become airborne when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

Tuberculosis is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• One third of the world’s population is infected with TB.
• Each year, over 9 million people around the world become sick with TB.
• Each year, there are almost 2 million TB-related deaths worldwide.
• TB is a leading killer of people who are HIV infected.

In total, 11,545 TB cases were reported in the United States in 2009.  “Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and active TB disease,” stated Susan White, Ph.D., CMC, President of Sussex Environmental Health Consultants (SEHC), a Delaware based environmental consulting firm.  “Environmental testing, utilizing advanced PCR methods, can rapidly determine if the bacteria that causes TB is present in the indoor environment to help prevent outbreaks,” she continued.

SEHC recently sponsored a public outreach video on Mycobacterium tuberculosis and TB, it can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7o93nmgp1E



To learn more about SEHC’s IAQ, environmental, or health and safety services, please visit http://www.sussexenvironmental.com, email susan.white@mchsi.com or call (302) 947-1810.

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About Sussex Environmental Health Consultants, LLC
SEHC is a certified woman owned business that provides environmental and health and safety consulting services. The company is located in the Mid-Atlantic and services customers nationwide. SEHC provides solutions to clients ranging from homeowners to international Fortune 500 corporations.