Overview
Tuberculosis is one
of the oldest transmissible diseases and it continues to be a public health
problem. It is also the principal cause of death in people with Acquired Immuno-Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS).
According to the Panamerican Health Organization, the Sonora-Arizona border area
has a 3.3 per 100,000 death rate due to Tuberculosis, almost 4 times the U.S.
rate. In 1995 the Arizona Department of Health Services in collaboration with
the Secretariat of Health of the State of Sonora in Mexico agreed to implement a
project with the purpose of assisting in the early detection of possible
cases of tuberculosis along the Arizona-Sonora border.
Other objectives of this project include drug susceptibility testing, adherence
to the anti-tuberculosis regimen and preventive therapy to contacts at risk of
developing active disease.
Activities include the coordination of activities between the border county
health departments, The Secretariat of Public Health of Sonora, and the Arizona
Department of Health Services in the detection, control, home-visits, and
follow-up of TB patients. A referral system of binational cases is also in
process.
Since its inception, the results of efforts to minimize this disease have been
very satisfactory. The collaboration and exchange of epidemiologic information
between the states of Sonora and Arizona and the effective utilization of
laboratory services have contributed to the success of this project.
The following data is from
January to December 2003 in border cities of Sonora, Mexico:
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The total number
of cases on curative TB therapy:
Agua Prieta: 5 cases
Nogales: 8 cases
San Luis Rio Colorado: 126 cases
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The number of
new TB cases identified and placed on treatment:
Agua Prieta: 5 cases
Nogales: 33 cases
San Luis Rio Colorado: 61 cases
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The number of TB
cases who completed curative TB therapy:
Agua Prieta: 5 cases
Nogales: 16 cases
San Luis Rio Colorado: 38 cases
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The number of
cases who continue on curative TB therapy:
Agua Prieta: 5 cases
Nogales: 73 cases
San Luis Rio Colorado: 124 cases |
For more information or data
on this project, contact our office. |
