Department of Public Health & Environment marks World Tuberculosis Day
Published on March 22, 2024
As the world observes World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24, the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) reaffirms its commitment to protecting Weld County by providing evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment services for individuals with active TB and their contacts.
After a decade-long drop, rates of tuberculosis are increasing in Colorado, with a nearly 60 percent increase in cases in 2023 compared to 2022. Before COVID, the average number of active cases in Weld County was about three per year, while there were seven active cases in 2023.
“While the numbers of cases are low overall, the increase in active cases have made TB a priority for the Health Department,” said WCDPH Director Jason Chessher. “By diagnosing, monitoring and treating people with TB infection, we can prevent them from getting sick and spreading TB to others.”
In Weld County, public health nurses in the TB program have been a beacon of hope for affected individuals, acting as a lifeline and point of connection every step of the way. Last year, the program provided over 300 home visits for Direct Observed Therapy to patients in isolation with active TB to ensure medications were being taken correctly and were working.
WCDPHE also carefully fosters collaborations with health care providers, community organizations and hospital systems to ensure appropriate testing for TB is being performed and referred promptly to Weld County if there are suspected TB symptoms so patients can be treated quickly and effectively, ensuring the well-being of the community.
World TB Day serves as a poignant reminder of the global fight against tuberculosis and the urgent need for collective action to eradicate this preventable and curable disease. For more information about the Weld County TB Program and its initiatives, please visit www.weld.gov/Government/Departments/Health-and-Environment/Public-Health-Services/Tuberculosis-Program.