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Adopt and present a resolution recognizing March 24, 2018 as World Tuberculosis Day (Supervisor Hannigan)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _ X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board adopt and present a resolution recognizing March 24, 2018 as World Tuberculosis (TB) Day.
SUMMARY:
In 1982, the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) proposed that March 24 be recognized as World TB day. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB) worldwide and the status of TB prevention and care efforts. It is also an opportunity to mobilize commitment for further efforts to end TB in conjunction with the World Health Organization’s sustainable development agenda. This resolution will recognize that all citizens of Solano County can take active steps towards creating awareness and preventing TB in the community. This year’s theme in the United States is, “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-Free United States. We can make history. End TB.” On March 24th the TB control program will continue its efforts in providing treatment for infected individuals without active disease, as well as providing prevention education utilizing the enormous reach of social media platforms to arm Solano County residents with the knowledge to protect themselves from TB infection and active disease.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are included in the Department’s FY2017/18 Adopted budget. There is no additional impact to the County General Fund.
DISCUSSION:
Annually in the United States and across the world, March 24th is recognized and declared World TB Day by IUATLD. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria which causes TB in humans. The purpose of World TB Day is to raise awareness about TB burden worldwide and the status of TB prevention and care efforts. It is also an opportunity to mobilize social and political commitment for further progress in efforts to end TB.
In the United States, 13 million people are estimated to have latent TB infection. One in ten people with latent TB infection will develop active TB disease. According to the California Department of Public Health, in 2016 an estimated 2.4 million California residents had latent TB infection with 2,062 people diagnosed with active TB disease. A short course of curative antibiotic treatment can be administered so that latent TB infection does not progress into active TB disease. The cost for treatment of latent TB infection is approximately $500 compared to the average cost of $17,000 to treat active TB disease.
In Solano County, in FY2016/17 the Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program evaluated 499 residents for TB disease and provided intensive nurse case management to twenty-four (24) patients with active TB disease. In addition, a contact investigation was conducted at Armijo High School involving the evaluation and testing of more than 300 students and faculty who were identified as exposed to TB. Facilitation of this investigation was so well managed that the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District Governing Board presented Solano County H&SS with a Proclamation of Appreciation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target goal of ending TB by 2030 by increasing access and working to address the health needs of the disadvantaged, marginalized, and those unreachable in the health care system. In 2016, WHO estimated that internationally 10.4 million people fell ill with TB with 1.8 million deaths, making it the top infectious killer worldwide. Additionally, an estimated 1 million children became ill with TB and 250,000 of them died of the disease. Also in 2016, an estimated 9,272 people were diagnosed with active TB disease in the U.S. Of the 2,062 new active diseases in California, 28 were reported in Solano County. World TB day provides an opportunity to focus local, national and international attention on TB infection and to disseminate information and promote prevention and awareness to reduce the spread of TB.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to adopt this resolution recognizing World TB Day. This is not recommended as it is an opportunity to increase awareness of the risk of TB.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The H&SS’s Communicable Disease Program works with health care providers locally and statewide to address TB cases in Solano County.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION