KING COUNTY, WA - Since a local sports figure was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) last Friday, Public Health - Seattle & King County has been assisting Mariner physicians in the testing, treatment and control of TB. In King County, Public Health screens for TB and provides preventive services to more than 20,000 persons each year.

"Locally, we have a world-class system in place to manage existing TB cases and prevent new infections, and we're able to keep infection rates low through effective public-private partnerships in the health care community," said King County Executive Ron Sims.

"King County has a well-organized TB prevention and treatment program. Problems such as drug-resistant TB and person-to-person outbreaks, which are common in other large US cities, have not occurred in Seattle and King County," said King County Board of Health Chairman Greg Nickels.

"Public Health conducts surveillance of the disease in Seattle and King County, provides medical management for approximately 75% of active TB cases, and has the responsibility to protect those who have had exposure to a case of TB," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.

There are approximately 125 cases of active tuberculosis each year in King County. To view Public Health's Tuberculosis 2000 Annual Report, please visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/tb/tb2000.htm

Certain populations, especially persons who immigrated from parts of the world where TB is highly endemic, are at greatest risk. Antibiotics nearly always lead to a complete cure. Worldwide, however, TB kills about 3 million people each year.

For more information on TB and TB services in King County, visit www.metrokc.gov/health/tb