SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Spokane County is seeing a rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases, with health officials noting an increase in the number of reported cases.
Dr. Mark Springer, Communicable Disease Program Manager at SRHD, confirmed there have been 11 reported cases of TB this year.
Five years ago, the county reported only five cases, meaning the number has more than doubled.
Treating TB is not straightforward, requiring specific medical attention.
Currently, SRHD has two full-time nurses working to manage the cases. With the rise in cases, these nurses are working about 60 hours a week.
Representatives from the SRHD presented budget findings at a County Commissioners meeting on September 8.
There, they indicated the potential for a future need for a third full time TB nurse.
“We’re looking at changes to help us manage the increasing volume,” Springer said.
To address the rising number of cases, SRHD plans to hire another specialized nurse, an initiative estimated to cost about $134,000.
This $134,000 would cover salary and benefits for a new nurse, which would in turn travel to patient’s homes, administer the medication, monitor the patient, contact trace for possible TB exposures, and report data to the SRHD.
Dr. Springer explained this is done every day, Monday through Friday.
“If people stop their medication halfway through the treatment, when they’re starting to feel better, there’s a good chance that their TB will come back, and it may come back in a way that’s drug-resistant,” Springer said.
Springer also explained that SRHD’s main role is to make sure TB treatment is accurate.
“That’s kind of where our role is, to ensure that people are able to complete their treatment in a timely fashion where they don’t expose anyone else,” Springer said.
Following the County Commissioners meeting, Commissioners requested an additional presentation on TB to take place on September 25 during their Health Board meeting.
