By CHELSEA VANCE | Staff Writer

The Alabama Department of Public Health has confirmed one new case of tuberculosis disease in Marion.

The diagnosis brings the total number of people to come down with TB disease to 27 in Perry County.

While all the cases are tied to Marion, 21 patients live in Perry County, while four are from Tuscaloosa and two are from Centreville.

As of Friday, there were nine active cases of TB disease in the outbreak that started in late 2014. Pam Barrett, ADPH’s director of TB control, said all those patients were being treated.

The newest patient is not hospitalized and is doing well according to Barrett, but three people have died in the outbreak.

Since screening began on Jan. 11, 49 people have tested positive for latent TB infection.

Thirty-seven of these patients have had chest X-rays read to make sure they didn’t have TB disease before starting preventive medicine.

“There is a very important difference between latent TB infection and TB disease,” Barrett said.

More than 1,000 Perry County residents have been tested so far this month.

Patients with latent TB infection cannot spread the germ to other people. They do have a positive TB skin test or a positive blood test for TB. They developed a positive test from being in close contact with a person who had TB disease.

Without treatment, about 5 to 10 percent of persons with latent TB infection will develop TB disease at some time in their lives.

Children, senior citizens, those with weakened immune systems or conditions like lung disease and diabetes and those who use drugs or alcohol are at highest risk of developing TB disease.

“Once you start medicine, you’re usually are only contained for a very short period of time. We have tests that we can do to determine when they are no longer contagious, and then we let them return to work or school,” Barrett said.

People with TB disease are considered infectious and may spread TB germs to others if not treated.

“If you think you’ve been around someone with active TB you need to be screened,” Barrett said.

To encourage screening and follow-up, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, through Jan. 29, the Perry County Health Department will pay

4$20 to anyone coming in to be screened for TB by the TSPOT blood test.

4Another $20 for returning after three days to get the result.

4 A third $20 for keeping an appointment to get a chest X-ray if it is recommended.

4An additional $100 to a patient if it is recommended that he or she take medication and treatment is completed.

Because of the high rate of TB infection in Marion, the Perry County Health Department is the only local health department offering money to patients for TB screening and treatment.

Healthcare officials have been encouraged by the community response so far.

“The citizens of Perry County are coming in to be tested and we appreciate their patience as we work to take care of every person who requests testing,” said Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers. “We have good support from the citizens as well as community leaders who have been involved in meetings to educate and inform about TB. Preventing and treating TB will save people’s lives.”

Symptoms of TB include cough lasting more than two weeks, shortness of breath, fever, night sweats, weight loss and fatigue.

The Perry County Health Department is located at 1748 S. Washington St., Marion. All services are confidential and are provided at no charge. No appointment is needed for this service.

For further information or questions, please contact Pam Barrett, Director, Division of TB Control, at (334) 467-8208, or pam.barrett@adph.state.al.us.