FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2013

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health (DOH) continues to collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the 2012 TB cluster in Duval County. A follow-up to the October 2012 Duval County TB cluster progress report was sent to CDC this week.

In addressing CDC's recommendations, the Department highlighted that nine epidemiologists from county health departments throughout the state were deployed to Duval County. In addition, all data regarding the Duval screenings are entered into the Florida Department of Health's Health Management System and are reviewed weekly or more often as needed. The most recent update of the contact investigation identified 33 individuals with active TB and 340 with Latent TB Infection (LTBI) out of more than 5,000 individuals tested since the beginning of 2012.

DOH's Tuberculosis Control Section Annual Progress Report, also submitted to the CDC this week, revealed that Florida has experienced an almost 10 percent decrease in TB cases between 2011 and 2012, and a significant reduction in TB among Hispanics and African Americans has been realized, as well. The closure of the A.G. Holley State Hospital, the last TB sanatorium in the United States, was a significant milestone in moving the care for TB patients towards a more patient-centered, community-focused care approach.

"The Florida Department of Health's Duval response demonstrated the value of an integrated statewide public health system," said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. "Improved surveillance and cluster investigation techniques learned will move Florida's System of Tuberculosis Care further down the road towards eliminating TB in Florida."

The responses provided to the CDC regarding the Duval County TB cluster investigation can be viewed here: www.floridahealth.gov/_documents/newsroom/press-releases/2013/05/050613-response-to-cdc.pdf.

DOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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