DPHHS raises awareness in fight against TB
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MONTANA — Officials with Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) are raising awareness about tuberculosis prevention tips and treatments that are available for those diagnosed with the disease.
“There’s been great progress to reduce tuberculosis disease in the last 20 years; however, more improvements could be made through increased education and awareness,” said Ryan Weight of the DPHHS Tuberculosis Program.
TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and TB disease.
Both latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease can be treated. If LTBI is untreated, many individuals will progress to active TB disease, become ill, and potentially transmit TB to others. TB disease can be fatal if not treated properly.
In the United States, approximately 8,000 cases of active TB disease are reported annually. In Montana, over the past 10 years, an average of six TB cases are reported each year, down from 13 cases per year experienced in the prior decade. On average, about 530 deaths are attributed annually to TB in the U.S., and the most recent Montana TB death was in 2021.
TB bacteria spread through the air from one person to another. When a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or speaks, TB bacteria can get into the air. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.
In 2023, a total of 288 cases of LTBI were diagnosed in Montana. Some individuals are at greater risk of developing LTBI infections, including individuals who have been exposed to TB, have lived in a TB endemic country for more than a month, are immunocompromised, or are on immunocompromising medications.
Individuals with any of these TB risk factors are advised to talk with their health care provider about getting tested. Treatment for LTBI infections is available and can prevent individuals from developing TB disease in the future.
For more information about tuberculosis, available tests, and educational videos, please visit the: DPHHS TB website.
