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Tuberculos Cases Increase in Contra Costa County

Issue: June 2009

Tuberculosis (TB) cases in Contra Costa County increased by 55% in 2008, according to recent data released by Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS). Public health officials are trying to raise awareness about TB and prevent its spread by urging anyone who might be at risk to be tested.

The number of new TB cases in Contra Costa jumped from 51 in 2007 to 79 in 2008. In West County, there were 39 reported cases, which accounted for almost half of all cases in the county. There were 22 reported cases in East County and 18 in Central County.

Dr. Charles Crane, Medical Director of the CCHS Tuberculosis Program, said the data should be a grim reminder for physicians, families and others of the ongoing battle against tuberculosis. As in past years, health officials said, the largest portion of cases in 2008 was people who got infected before coming to the United States.

“Roughly 70% of all new cases in Contra Costa County involve people born outside of the United States. Because we do not have regular contact with this population, it is hard to screen them for TB,” Crane said. “People who come to the United States need to be tested so they can receive an early diagnosis and get the treatment they need.”

The increase in 2008 ends an almost constant decline in Contra Costa from the previous 12 years. In 1996, there were 117 reported cases of TB in Contra Costa County. Francie Wise, Chief of the Communicable Disease Program at CCHS, said a loss of focus contributed to the rise in cases last year. “A severe outbreak of TB in 1987 caused people to pay attention,” Wise said. “We need to regain focus at all levels–local, state and federal.”

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