SPRINGFIELD, IL – The number of tuberculosis cases reported in Illinois in 1999 dropped to 825, continuing a steady decline that began in 1992, the Illinois Department of Public Health today reported.

"After a century-long struggle against tuberculosis, it is encouraging to see a consistent decline in the number of TB cases – both in Illinois and nationally – since 1992," said Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director. "However, public health professionals and those in the medical community must maintain their vigilance and not let complacency reverse this trend."

While the number of reported cases fell, the number of deaths due to tuberculosis increased slightly, from an all-time low of 53 in 1997 to 59 in 1998, the most recent year for which statistics are available. At the beginning of the 20th century, tuberculosis claimed nearly 7,000 lives a year in Illinois.

Tuberculosis is a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease that is transmitted from person to person through the air. While it can affect any part of the body, such as the brain, kidneys or spine, tuberculosis usually affects the lungs. General symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, fever and night sweats and, when it attacks the lungs, a persistent cough, sometimes producing blood and chest pains.

Over the last 30 years in Illinois, there has been a general decline in the number of reported TB cases with episodic increases in the mid-1970s, early 1980s and, most recently, in the early 1990s. Since 1992, the incidence of TB has shown a steady decline, with cases falling below 1,000 for the first time in 1997 (974 cases).

Tuberculosis is usually curable, but an infected person must faithfully adhere to prescribed drug therapy at least two to three times a week for six months or longer. Many patients (about 73 percent in 1999) comply with the strict drug regimen, but some stop taking the antibiotics after they start to feel better. Failure to follow the therapy may allow the tuberculosis to return. In some cases, the re-established infection cannot be treated with the usual antibiotics.

One successful strategy used by local health departments to combat the disease has been "directly observed therapy," in which public health workers watch TB patients take the required antibiotics. This labor-intensive practice has received much of the credit for reducing the number of cases.

The city of Chicago accounted for 463 cases in 1999, down from 473 the previous year. In Cook County and the five collar counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will), there were 709 cases in 1999 compared with 730 in 1998.

Tuberculosis cases among individuals living in Illinois but who were born in foreign countries increased in 1999 to 255. Foreign-born cases accounted for 197 cases in 1995, 217 in 1996, 225 in 1997 and 243 cases in 1998.

Illinois' numbers were released today in conjunction with World TB Day, an annual event that commemorates the date when the tuberculosis bacillus was discovered.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments