State Reports Slight Rise in TB Cases
The number of tuberculosis cases reported in California rose slightly in 2001, but the TB rate--the number of cases per 100,000 residents--remained the same, state officials said.
There were 3,332 new cases reported last year, up from 3,297 in 2000. That means there were 9.5 cases for every 100,000 residents both years.
The number of TB cases has declined since 5,382 were reported in 1992.
“TB is an age-old disease, and eliminating it is a fight that public health workers are waging around the world,” said Diana Bonta, the state’s health director. “Although we have made great progress in California and in the United States, we know that much remains to be done to prevent a resurgence of the disease.”
Despite the stagnant rate of new TB cases, California still has the highest number of cases in the nation, and there are wide differences in the TB rate among the state’s ethnic groups.
The rate for Asians and Pacific islanders is 33.8 per 100,000 residents; for blacks, it’s 12.4 per 100,000; and for Hispanics, it’s 11.4 per 100,000.
Native Americans have a rate of 7.7 per 100,000, and the rate for white, non-Hispanic residents is 2.1 per 100,000.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
