News Release
For Immediate Release Contact: Sara T. Pappa, Public Information
March 20, 2007 (937) 374-5662 or toll-free at 1(866) 858-3588
GREENE COUNTY COMBINED HEALTH DISTRICT
RECOGNIZES WORLD TUBERCULOSIS (TB) DAY
(Xenia, OH) The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) is recognizing World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24, 2007.
TB ANYWHERE IS TB EVERYWHERE is the theme for 2007 World TB Day, March 24th, offering a message of urgency and shared responsibility. Through unified action on all levels, we can work towards a world finally free of tuberculosis.
The 2007 theme TB ANYWHERE IS TB EVERYWHERE emphasizes that although TB is a preventable and curable disease, it remains a global emergency. The theme reflects the chronically inadequate investment in TB control, surveillance, research and development as well as TB's deadly synergy with HIV.
The 2007 theme addresses the challenges to country TB programs performance that affect TB control progress on a global scale. Achieving the TB-focused targets of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals depends on effectively raising and addressing country-level challenges through a unified global campaign.
In 2007, the World Health Organization will report on whether the 2005 global TB control targets of 70% case detection and 85% treatment success have been achieved.
Fifty countries have met the 70% detection target and approximately 25 countries have met both targets. This success represents a major landmark in TB control history and proves that TB control is effective, even in countries with limited resources. The predicted global average treatment success rate of 84% in 2005 is undeniably good, and the case detection rate is likely to be 60% in 2005. However, 1.5 million new infectious TB cases each year are still being missed.
Continued…
To help overcome the challenges that keep TB a global threat, there is an urgent need to push for full funding of the Global Plan to Stop TB (2006-2015) and work for implementation of the Stop TB Strategy. It is time for all governments and the donor community to meet their full responsibility to Stop TB, and for decision-makers to stand alongside people and communities affected by TB.
In 2005, there were 260 cases in Ohio. For 2006, the number dropped to 239. Currently, there are 2 TB cases being treated in Green County
For additional information, please contact Public Health Nurse Amy Schmitt at (937) 374-5638 or 1-866-858-3588.
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