{"id":17798,"date":"2026-03-25T16:21:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T20:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=17798"},"modified":"2026-03-25T16:21:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T20:21:15","slug":"rhhd-encourages-community-members-to-seek-preventative-care-screening-for-tuberculosis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/2026-regional-news-releases\/rhhd-encourages-community-members-to-seek-preventative-care-screening-for-tuberculosis\/","title":{"rendered":"RHHD Encourages Community Members to Seek Preventative Care, Screening for Tuberculosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 24, 2026
\nMedia Contact:<\/strong> Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov<\/p>\n

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

Local and state TB data<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Data from the Virginia Department of Health<\/a> (VDH) show that Richmond City (3.1) and Henrico County (3.0) had higher rates of TB cases per 100,000 people than Virginia (2.6) in 2024. In 2024<\/a>, Virginia reported 225 cases of tuberculosis (TB), a 9% increase from the 207 cases reported in 2023. This increase was expected as local and national TB numbers continued to increase after declines in reported cases during the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia\u2019s TB case rate increased from 2.4 cases per 100,000 persons in 2023 to 2.6 cases per 100,000 persons in 2024. Virginia\u2019s 2024 rate, as it has in the past, remained below the national rate of 3 cases per 100,000 persons.<\/p>\n

\u201cTuberculosis continues to have an impact on public health in our commonwealth and our districts,\u201d said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D. \u201cWorld TB Day reminds us of the importance of prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment of this serious infectious disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

Impact of TB<\/strong><\/h2>\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<\/a> for tests. RHHD staff can help people determine which TB test they need.<\/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><\/h3>\n