Raising Awareness about Tuberculosis

March 24 is World TB Day

The New Mexico Department of Health is using today, World Tuberculosis Day, to raise awareness about tuberculosis. Currently, hundreds of people in New Mexico are living with Tuberculosis (TB) infection and could benefit from treatment to prevent activation of their disease.

Tuberculosis is an airborne disease and is the second infectious disease killer in the world. More than 1.3 million people die every year from this preventable and treatable bacterial infection.

Every state in the US reports infectious TB cases annually. There are eight to ten million people in the United States living with TB infection. Of those ten million people living with the bacteria in their body, one million or more will progress to active TB disease and infect ten to 15 more people with the bacteria.

Fifty cases of active TB were reported in New Mexico in 2013, up from 40 cases in 2012.

The symptoms of active infectious TB disease include:

• A cough that does not go away
• Unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats
• Anorexia
• Fever

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms of active TB, please contact the New Mexico Department of Health at 505-827-2473/2471 or your primary care doctor for an evaluation. Tuberculosis is treatable and curable once the individual is given the correct antibiotics.

For more information on active TB and TB Infection, please visit the Tuberculosis Prevention section of our website.

Media Contact

We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact Kenny Vigil at 505-841-5871 (Office) or 505-470-2290 (Mobile) with your questions.