Monday, January 30, 2023
1/30/2023
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne disease and a leading cause of death globally. One fourth of the world’s population is infected with TB. In 2017, 10 million people around the world developed active TB disease. There were 1.3 million TB-related deaths world-wide, and TB is the leading killer of people who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A total of 91 cases of active TB were reported in Alabama in 2018, which represents a 24.8 percent decrease in the number of cases reported in 2017. Meeting the U.S. TB elimination goal will require an added focus on testing and treating high-risk persons with latent TB infection (LTBI) to prevent them from developing active TB disease. In 2018, district TB programs in Alabama evaluated and diagnosed 229 cases of TB infection, which represents a 10.1 percent increase compared to LTBIs diagnosed at district public health departments in 2017. TB disproportionately affects certain populations including those who are non-U.S.-born, have HIV or diabetes, experiencing homelessness, are incarcerated, or use illicit substances. The incidence rate of active TB among non-U.S.-born persons in Alabama in 2018 was 28 per 100,000 and represented 30.77 percent of the total cases of TB reported in Alabama in that year. While the total number of active TB cases in Alabama decreased from 2017 to 2018, the proportion of total cases with the risk factors listed above decreased among all patients. Achieving TB elimination in Alabama and in the U.S. will require focusing on persons in these high-risk groups. TB prevention and control activities in Alabama are conducted at the public health district level by multi-disciplinary teams. These teams are led by district TB managers who are directly responsible for all aspects of TB surveillance in the district level model. In support of the districts, the Division of TB Control (DTBE) has implemented a statewide model to provide surge capacity for large scale contact investigations and case management activities as needed. TB program successes are directly attributable to staff physically located in the eight public health districts. Public health district field activities are supported by state level staff – a director, TB nurse consultant, minority health coordinator (who also serves as corrections liaison), training coordinator, and special projects manager. These staff members are responsible for policy development, administrative and logistical support, technical advice and assistance, and education and training. Program evaluation and quality assurance activities are also coordinated and conducted by staff at the state level.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
