In both 1999 and 2000, 246 TB cases were reported in Orange County. The TB case rate per 100,000 population is lower in Orange County than the overall rate in California, but higher than the United States rate. County Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton says the health care community should not let down its guard because the number of TB cases is not increasing. "A significant number of Orange County residents are infected with tuberculosis and are at-risk for development of active TB. We must continue working with the county's TB Coalition, the medical community, and other community partners to reach all of those in need of TB testing and treatment," said Dr. Horton.

The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) offers diagnosis and treatment services for patients with tuberculosis, including preventive care for those with latent TB. Through clinics located in Santa Ana and Westminster, patients are provided with directly observed treatment, which is considered to be the most cost effective TB treatment available. HCA also offers TB skin testing at clinics in Anaheim and San Juan Capistrano. For information on these clinic facilities, call the HCA Health Referral Line at 1-800-564-8448.

Examples of HCA's outreach efforts include a partnership with St. Anselm's Cross Cultural Center in Garden Grove, where efforts are underway to provide TB prevention, education, testing and treatment in a community setting. As part of the World TB Day observance in Orange County, St. Anselm's will host a presentation on Friday, March 23 to help individuals recognize the symptoms of TB while also providing information on TB treatment.

To raise community awareness of tuberculosis, the Orange County TB coalition-headed by the American Lung Association of Orange County-can provide speakers for presentations to health care providers, community groups and schools. More information about TB is available on the HCA Web site at www.ochealthinfo.com/public/tb/ or from the American Lung Association of Orange County, which provides free educational materials in Spanish and in English. To schedule a presentation or receive information available from the American Lung Association, call (714) 835-5864.