A History Of Tuberculosis In Alabama

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/04/cdc_tb.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:700;s:6:"height";i:475;s:4:"file";s:18:"2015/04/cdc_tb.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-336x228.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:228;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"cdc_tb-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-700x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:700;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-600x475.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:475;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-458x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:458;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-391x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:391;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-600x475.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:475;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"cdc_tb-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Janice Haney Carr
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => CDC/ Ray Butler, MS
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => already_optimized
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

)
1636090482 
1428589278

Homewood residents were startled late last month when Homewood City Schools announced that a freshmen at Homewood High School was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). For most people, the respiratory disease tuberculosis is an anachronism, but it still kills more than a million people each year, mostly in developing countries.

“Not surprisingly, TB has a long history in Alabama as well,” says Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD.  Patterson recently wrote about TB’s history in Alabama. He says, in the 50’s, TB was a leading cause of death in Jefferson County.

The Birmingham Historical Society marked the place, now in the English Village, where tuberculosis was first fought in North Alabama.
The Birmingham Historical Society marked the place, now in the English Village, where tuberculosis was first fought in North Alabama. Photo by Nick Patterson, WELD.

“In 1964, lights in the shape of a Christmas tree decorated the side of the Vulcan tower and would glow red whenever there was a new TB diagnosis — like the statue’s torch did at the time for traffic fatalities,” says Patterson.

Patterson joins WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley to talk about TB’s legacy, and his interview with Dr. Edward Khan, medical director for disease control at the Jefferson County Department of Health, on the Homewood TB case.

 

States and cities beef up security to prepare for potential election-related violence

Washington state's governor activated the National Guard to stand by to help local law enforcement as needed. Meanwhile, extra security is in place at locations across Washington, D.C.

When will mail-in and absentee ballots be counted?

Various state rules regarding when election officials can process and count mail ballots means it will likely take some time after Election Day before the results from these ballots are fully known.

When do polls close in every state? Here’s a timeline

The Associated Press can't call any races until polls close in their respective state. Here's a breakdown of when that will happen.

How has the Electoral College survived, despite being perennially unpopular?

Despite its substantial-sounding name, the Electoral College isn’t a permanent body: It’s more of a process. For decades, a majority of Americans have wanted it to be changed.

Thousands of Pennsylvania voters have had their mail ballot applications challenged

Thousands of last-minute challenges to voters’ mail ballot applications, along with baseless claims by former President Donald Trump, are adding pressure on Pennsylvania county officials.

No more fluoride in the water? RFK Jr. wants that and Trump says it ‘sounds OK’

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s claims about fluoride in the drinking water are linked to Cold War conspiracy theories about the substance.

More News Coverage