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The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole) will offer free tuberculosis skin testing (TST) on Friday, March 23rd from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM at 400 W. Airport Blvd. Sanford, FL 32773 along with education and awareness about the prevention, transmission, and treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) to recognize World TB Day 2018.
"TB is preventable and curable, but too many people continue to suffer from this disease in the US. We are committed to finding, treating and ending TB in our community through partnerships," said Donna Walsh, health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County.
In 2016, 10.4 million people around the world became sick with TB disease. This year's theme is "Wanted: Leaders for a TB-Free United States. We can make history. End TB", which focuses on building commitment to end TB on all levels including government, community leaders, people affected with TB, advocates, health workers and many other partners.
Anyone can get TB. The general symptoms include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and coughing up blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.
TB germs are spread when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection. TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for several months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed.
The DOH-Seminole TB Program provides outreach and clinical services. The outreach component includes screening high-risk individuals, investigation and testing of those exposed to an active case of TB, along with directly observed medication therapy of active TB cases. Clinical services provide the diagnosis and treatment of persons with active TB disease, and comprehensive case management of active cases of TB. Treatment is critical in achieving the elimination of TB as a public health problem in Florida.
For more information on World TB Day, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/events/WorldTBDay/default.htm .
