Monday, October 28, 2002
The tuberculosis levy generates $180,000 a year.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR HEALTH WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Renewal of Mahoning County's one-tenth of 1 percent TB (tuberculosis) levy is crucial to eradication of the disease locally, health officials say.
The five-year levy, last approved in 1997 and due to expire at the end of 2003, is up for renewal in the Nov. 5 general election.
The levy generates $180,000 a year, which funds case management, laboratory fees, X-rays and pharmaceuticals at no cost to residents who receive services, as well as screening, said Matthew Stefanak, county health commissioner.
The Mahoning County TB Control Program staff is Dr. Robert DeMarco, TB control officer; Diana Colaiainni, director of nursing; Kathleen Berry, TB nurse; Shawn Hunger-Little, registrar; and Stefanak.
Success
The levy is needed because TB remains in the community, Stefanak said. The county health department is in the middle of a plan to eliminate the disease, and it is succeeding, he said. But, there is a need to continue case finding efforts and identify latent infections,
There are 5-10 active TB cases in the community, and up to 1 percent of the population may have latent TB infection. Unless those with latent infection are identified, the disease won't be eliminated, Stefanak said.
While insurance may pay for treatment, it doesn't fund the disease control aspect. Screening large numbers of people and coordinating and providing medication is a public health function, Stefanak said.
The health commissioner said more than 3,000 people are screened each year, and the health department is recording fewer active cases.
Stefanak said it would be inefficient to test all residents. But, he said, the health department targets for testing people at high risk, such as those who move into the area from places that have TB such as Southeast Asia, Africa and the former Soviet Republic. Other screening target areas are people who work in institutional settings, health-care facilities and the homeless.
Up to 1 percent of the population in Mahoning County may have latent TB infection, and up to one-third of the world may be infected with TB, Stefanak said.
Everyone is at risk
The reason the average person should vote for the levy, Stefanak said, is because there is some exposure risk for everybody, and the best way to control the disease is through the public health department.
"We have seen instances where one infected person exposed scores of co-workers and family members. This program insures you will be contacted, screened and monitored and offered preventative treatment," Stefanak said.