| TB General Information
While U.S. tuberculosis cases have decreased
overall in recent years, it is still a serious public health
problem in some communities. Ten to 15 million people in this
country are infected with tuberculosis. One in 10 of those
currently infected – more than one million people – will
eventually develop active tuberculosis and could spread it to
others.
We cannot allow policymakers to relax now that
tuberculosis rates are declining in this country. The numbers are
dropping precisely because we have been investing in tuberculosis
control. If this support erodes, we face an inevitable increase in
tuberculosis cases. The next time around, re-establishing control
is likely to be far more costly.
Well-funded programs and a strong TB-control
infrastructure will protect the U.S. against tuberculosis strains
that resist traditional drug treatment. Drug-resistant
tuberculosis is a huge problem in many parts of the world and has
emerged in U.S. as well. Poorly funded, poorly managed programs
will result in increased drug-resistant TB.
Global TB
The global tuberculosis problem is a U.S.
problem. More than 40 percent of newly diagnosed cases in the
United States occur among foreign-born individuals.
The United States cannot win its battle with tuberculosis until
the world does. To fully eliminate TB in the U.S., we need greater
U.S. support for international TB-control efforts.
The American Lung Association and American
Thoracic Society urge Congress to significantly increase U.S.
support for international tuberculosis-control programs.
Specifically, we are wholeheartedly supporting legislation
introduced by Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Barbara Boxer
(D-CA) that would increase the federal budget for international
TB-control programs from $25 million in FY2000 to $100 million in
FY2001.
The American Lung Association and American
Thoracic Society are deeply involved in efforts to fight
tuberculosis on a global basis and are founding partners in the
international STOP TB Initiative. STOP TB is analyzing current
tuberculosis-control efforts; encouraging greater government
commitment to tuberculosis control at the international, regional
and country levels; and working to ensure universal access to
high-quality anti-tuberculosis drugs.
The U.S. has a vested interest in becoming a
good global citizen through participation in the STOP TB
Initiative and a major international STOP TB event – a Ministerial
Conference of high-level representatives from countries around the
world March 22-24 in Amsterdam. The conference will seek a better
understanding of the social and economic impact of tuberculosis
and assess how effective tuberculosis programs can contain the
epidemic and contribute to overall development.
We’ve seen successes in fighting tuberculosis
here and elsewhere around the world, but World TB Day is no time
to celebrate. There is no victory to proclaim – yet. We must renew
our commitment to eradicating this terrible disease. Through a
strong partnership of public health advocates, government and
international interests, we can and will win the war against
tuberculosis.
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