County Homicide Rate Leads the State, Agency Says

The county has the state’s highest homicide rate and among the highest rates of AIDS, tuberculosis and syphilis, according to the state Department of Health Services.

Los Angeles County had an average of 17.7 homicides per 100,000 residents over a three-year period, the report released Monday said. In comparison, the state average was 10.6 homicides per 100,000 residents from 1995 through 1997.

The county ranked 55th out of 58 in gun-related deaths and in the number of AIDS cases, the report said. In terms of tuberculosis and syphilis cases, the county ranked 53rd. The county also had among the lowest rates of unintentional injury deaths, ranking 7th with 21.9 deaths per 100,000 residents compared with a state average of 25.7 deaths per 100,000 residents.

And even with millions of vehicles on Southland roadways, the county ranked 12th in deaths caused by crashes.

Despite having an image of being health conscious, the county was 51st in the number of deaths linked to coronary heart disease, the report showed. The county had 109.7 such deaths compared with a state average of 96.9 deaths.

“The poor standings in deaths due to coronary heart disease is of particular concern because heart disease can often be prevented by . . . adopting healthier behaviors,” Dr. Jonathan Fielding, head of the county’s public health programs.