TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida health officials say they are reducing the number of cases of tuberculosis thanks to new technologies.
The Department of Health said this week that the number of TB in Florida have gone down by 42 percent from 1,038 cases in 2006 to 602 in 2015. In the past year, the department has increased the use of certain laboratory blood tests to detect latent TB infection. The test only requires one visit compared to the previous test. The state is also using video technology to help doctors observe patients remotely to ensure they are taking their medications.
TB usually attacks the lungs and is spread through the air. Symptoms include a bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer, weakness, fever and night sweats.