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Health unit joins fight to prevent spread of tuberculosis

The Sudbury and District Health Unit is asking anyone who is at risk of developing tuberculosis and get a simple skin test to fight off this preventable disease.
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The Sudbury and District Health Unit is asking anyone who is at risk of developing tuberculosis and get a simple skin test to fight off this preventable disease.

This past Saturday was World TB Day, which brings attention to the global fight against tuberculosis. Across the world, communities and health care professionals are mobilizing, raising awareness, engaging with governments and encouraging sponsors to invest in TB control.

The World Health Organization estimates two billion people, or about one-third of the world's population, are infected with TB. Each year in Canada, 1,700 people are infected with TB and roughly 650 Ontarians are infected.

Tuberculosis is an illness that usually affects the lungs. People who are sick with TB in their lungs have active TB disease, which can be spread when they cough, sneeze, spit or talk.

A person who inhales the TB germ can become infected. One in 10 people infected with TB becomes sick with active TB disease in their lifetime. Not everyone infected with TB becomes sick.

Tuberculosis is preventable, treatable and curable.

Those who are at risk of developing TB include:

* Anyone who has close contact with people known or suspected of having active TB.

* Foreign-born immigrants from high-risk countries.

* Homeless or under-housed people.

* Aboriginals.

* People living with HIV/AIDS.

* People with medical conditions such as diabetes and certain types of cancer.

* Alcoholics and intravenous drug users.

A simple skin test can detect TB infection. Call the health unit at 522-9200 for more information or talk to a health care provider.


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