{"id":13151,"date":"2025-04-01T14:02:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T18:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=13151"},"modified":"2025-04-01T14:33:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T18:33:54","slug":"in-the-news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/archived-news-releases\/2025-regional-news-releases\/in-the-news\/","title":{"rendered":"In the News"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 24, 2025<\/p>\n

Media Contact:<\/strong> Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov<\/p>\n

RHHD Encourages Community Members to Seek Preventative Care, Screening for Tuberculosis<\/strong><\/p>\n

March 24 is World TB Day<\/em><\/p>\n

RICHMOND, Va.<\/strong> \u2014Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourages community members to seek preventative care, screening, and\/or treatment for tuberculosis (TB<\/strong><\/a>). Tuberculosis is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. World TB Day<\/strong><\/a> is on March 24.<\/p>\n

\u201cTuberculosis is currently the world’s leading cause of death from an infectious agent,\u201d said Dr. Stephanie Leary, pediatrician and Richmond and Henrico Health Districts public health physician. \u201cTuberculosis infection and disease is preventable and curable. Today, at the Richmond Henrico Health Districts, we recognize World TB Day while we bring awareness of this disease to our local community.\u201d<\/p>\n

TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment. People with TB disease are most likely to spread the germs to people they spend time with every day, such as family members or coworkers. People who have been around someone who has TB disease should contact their doctor or local health department<\/strong><\/a> for tests. RHHD staff can help people determine which TB test they need.<\/p>\n

Community members can call 804-482-5500 to schedule an appointment with the RHHD Tuberculosis Program<\/strong><\/a>. Community members can visit rhhd.gov<\/strong><\/a> for more information on RHHD clinical services, including screenings.<\/p>\n

There are two TB-related conditions: active tuberculosis disease and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) or inactive TB. People with active TB disease usually feel sick, have symptoms and can spread TB to others. People with LTBI do not feel sick, do not have symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. Most people with inactive TB don\u2019t know that they are infected. The RHHD Tuberculosis Program strives to prevent, identify, and treat tuberculosis in both its latent and active forms.<\/p>\n

The general symptoms of active TB disease include:<\/strong><\/p>\n