KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's deputy state epidemiologist says Alaska has the highest tuberculosis rates in the country.
Making matters worse, the Kodiak Daily Mirror (http://is.gd/8Qws9A) reports that doctors now face shortages of tuberculosis detection and treatment medicines. Dr. Michael Cooper says there is a national shortage and that has the state asking people to put on hold some of the routine screening for at-risk people.
In 2011, Alaska had 9.3 tuberculosis reports per 100,000 people. The national average was 3.4 cases per 100,000 people.
___
Information from: Kodiak (Alaska) Daily Mirror, http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com
©2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
