| STANISLAUS
COUNTY – Collapsing or removing a lung, isolation, spending
your life in a sanatorium—this was the mainstay treatment of tuberculosis
(TB) 60 years ago. By 1930, the United States had 600 sanatoriums, accommodating
84,000 beds. In the past, to receive treatment for TB often meant moving
to another state and remaining isolated for the rest of life.
Much has changed in the treatment of TB. That’s why the Stanislaus
County Health Services Agency is celebrating World TB Day on Friday, March
23 and using this as a reminder to people of the advances that have taken
place in the treatment of TB. There will be several events taking place
surrounding TB in Stanislaus County:
- Thursday, March 22 – commencement of a new Stanislaus County
Tuberculosis Task Force to communicate and collaborate on TB issues
in the county
- Friday, March 23 – a special recognition party for Dr. Cutting
Favour. The 87 year-old Dr. Favour is a Johns Hopkins trained physician
who continues to serve as the TB Controller for Stanislaus County. Dr.
Favour will be honored for his service at a special party at the Public
Health Department at 820 Scenic Drive from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. A
special recognition ceremony will occur at 1:30 p.m. Dr. Favour has
been treating TB patients for 60 years and has been the TB Controller
for Stanislaus County since 1978.
- Saturday, March 24 – the "official" World TB Day (no
local events planned)
Interviews/visuals for the story
Interviews with Dr. Cutting Favour
Interviews with staff from Public Health on TB
Photos of former treatment facilities
On-site laboratory available for b-roll
Former building used for TB in Stanislaus County has outdoor rampway
where families had to talk to patients through small window (located here
on Public Health campus)
Counties throughout California continue to see TB cases on an annual
basis, although the numbers have grown small compared to many years in
the past. Stanislaus County experiences between 25-35 new cases of TB
each year.
Stanislaus County opened its TB ward in 1938. Visitors could talk through
small window openings, accessed outside the building from rampways that
are still in place today.
In the 1800’s, TB was looked upon as a refined disease, one that
affected artistic individuals. Such lives as Tom Wolfe, John Keats, and
First Lady Hannah Van Buren were claimed. As the epidemic continued, oftentimes,
the victims themselves were blamed. By the late 19th century, the TB bacillus
and its mode of transmission were identified.
New types of treatment
A lot has changed. The sanatoriums and TB wards have given way to Directly
Observed Treatment (DOT) combined with a few weeks in isolation at home
or in the hospital. Utilizing DOT, patients are monitored to ensure the
medications are taken. The average course of treatment is 6-18 months.
TB rates worldwide
Though TB rates have declined in the United States, it remains epidemic
worldwide, killing 8,000 people per day. Migration, international air
travel, and tourism have contributed to the global spread of the disease.
California reports approximately 3,000 new cases each year. It is estimated
that 3.4 million additional Californians may have latent TB infection.
Until TB is eliminated world-wide, it remains a continued health concern.
The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA)
is an outpatient medical system with 9 medical offices located throughout
Stanislaus County. The HSA operates the Public Health Department, an Urgent
Care Center and multiple programs serving over 400,000 patients and clients
each year in Stanislaus County. The HSA also is in local partnerships
for the MOMobile project and the Stanislaus Family Practice Residency
Program. The HSA has extensive community health information available
at its web site www.hsahealth.org
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