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
        )

)
1655791693 
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.

 

Federal judge declines to order Trump officials to recover deleted Signal messages

The watchdog group American Oversight had asked a federal judge to order top national security officials to preserve any messages they may have sent on the private messaging app Signal.

Welcome to summer: U.S. braces for first significant heat wave of the new season

For many Americans, high humidity will make it feel in the triple digits. The National Weather Service is urging people to prepare to protect themselves from the dangers of extreme heat.

Trump says he’s close to ‘a Deal’ with Harvard, as judge grants injunction

Trump's Truth Social comments came as a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that would continue blocking the president's efforts to bar international students from attending Harvard.

Trump is no stranger to setting 2-week deadlines. Here’s how others have played out

Since his first term, Trump has promised action on everything from tax legislation to health care within a fortnight — only for his announcements to materialize months later or not at all.

A man is charged with attempting to kidnap Memphis Mayor Paul Young

Police say Trenton Abston, 25, came to Mayor Paul Young's home armed with a Taser. Officers allegedly found rope and duct tape in his car.

Voice of America gutted by Trump adviser Kari Lake

The Trump administration is slashing jobs at Voice of America's parent agency by 85%. Journalists who have risked their freedom to report for the broadcaster wonder what happens next.

More News Coverage