Two More People Diagnosed with TB in Perry County

Alabama Department of Public Health officials say two more people have tested positive for tuberculosis in Perry County.

Division of tuberculosis control Director Pam Barrett said in a statement Thursday that one case of the airborne bacterial infection was diagnosed in a child less than 15 years old.

Officials have said an outbreak in the rural Alabama county killed three people since 2011, prompting more aggressive screening efforts in Marion. Those efforts included paying residents to get tested, attend follow up appointments and complete necessary treatment.

Barrett says 2,023 people in Marion have been tested, 151 have latent infections which aren’t contagious and 29 have tuberculosis disease.

Officials say those with latent infections will get treatment to prevent the infections from developing into tuberculosis disease, which is contagious.

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