FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN LAKE COUNTY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ON WORLD TUBERCULOSIS (TB) DAY  

Eustis, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Lake County will observe World TB Day on Friday, March 24, 2017 at the Umatilla Health Center located at 249 E. Collins Street, Umatilla, FL, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm.  Educational materials will be available and tuberculin skin test will be offered for a fee of $25 per test.  The Tuberculosis blood test will also be offered for a fee of $45 per test.

TB is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tiny particles containing M. tuberculosis may be released into the air when a person with TB disease of the lung or throat coughs or sneezes. If another person inhales air that contains these particles, the TB bacteria may enter the lungs causing infection.  However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions can exist: latent TB infection and TB disease and in both cases treatment should be sought.

The 2017 World TB Day theme according to the Stop TB Partnership is: “United to End TB”. The Florida Department of Health’s goal is to join efforts to spread TB awareness and reduce the number of TB cases in the state. TB continues to be a public health threat in Florida and continues to be one of the world’s deadliest diseases.

• One third of the world’s population are infected with TB
• Each year, nearly 9 million people around the world become sick with TB
• TB is the leading killer of people who are HIV infected

For more information regarding a TB Test, Treatment and Cure, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Lake County at 352-771-5554.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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