The tuberculosis rates have fallen to their lowest level since 1953 when we began keeping records here:
There were 3.9% fewer reported cases of TB (tuberculosis) in the USA in 2010 than in 2009, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The authors say that although the average drop in TB rates was 3.8% annually during 2000-2008, the target of less than 0.1 case per 100,000 people was not met by 2010. In 2010 there were 3.6 cases per 100,000 people.
Just four states, California, Florida, New York and Texas, account for about half the cases. This is probably explained by the high rates of immigration in these states—foreign-born individuals are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with the disease.
I recall getting TB patch tests when I was in grade school. There’s a large campus of a tuberculosis sanitarium within walking distance of where I set. It’s now used for a combination civic center, park, and elder housing.
When you consider that a little over a century ago, tuberculosis was a sure killer and within living memory people were still being isolated as a method of controlling the disease, dropping the rate of infection as low as it is is a major accomplishment.
We got TB inoculations of some sort at school in France. They cut a little tic-tac-toe onto your shoulder. I still test positive.
Michael, are you covered on life insurance? If so, was there a physical and was the positive test result a problem? I don’t mean to pry, but this is something of material importance to my wife and I.
I am covered, but only because I formed a corporation and used a provision of California law that lets us create a group policy that can’t be rejected. I don’t think the TB thing was the issue, though, because I have an explanation for that and it’s been dealt with on the record. (Actually, I have some immunity, which is a plus.) I think rather the over-50 thing was the issue.
I’d add that I could have paid the health insurance company the money I spent on creating a corp. on the tax prep b.s. and the assorted hassle, but they’d rather cherry-pick and force me to use an end-run. I understand that my premium should be higher — and it is — so that was not the issue.
Fortunately, thanks to Mr. Obama, I can get back to a more normal situation in 2014.
Thanks for the info. We’re good on health insurance, but life insurance has proven to be more problematic. Essentially, we’ve been told (by our infectious disease specialist) that the test may always come up positive even if there is no risk. We’ve been told by the life insurance salesperson that we will be “uninsurable” with a positive test, pretty much regardless of circumstance. We haven’t really shopped around, but may do so when the treatment is complete.
Trumwill:
The insurance industry is a variety of organized crime.
I had no problem getting life insurance. But it’s term, and my kids will be sadly disappointed if I make it to 70.