RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, an estimated 650,000 Illinoisans are infected with the bacterium that causes Tuberculosis (TB), and 166 cases of active tuberculosis (TB) disease were reported in the City of Chicago in 2011, 359 cases of active TB disease were reported in Illinois in. 2011: and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago remains among the cities reporting the highest number of TB cases in the nation; and
WHEREAS, there is a disproportionate burden of TB in minorities and persons born outside the United States; and
WHEREAS, each year thousands of household members, health care employees and others who share the air of infectious tuberculosis patients are at risk of becoming infected with the tuberculosis bacterium and progressing to active disease; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Department of Public Health is working to promote prompt diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis cases, implementation of strategies to prevent tuberculosis in children, improved working relationships between public health providers and private providers, hospitals, long term care facilities, correctional facilities, managed care organizations and others, and decreased tuberculosis transmission in health care facilities and community settings; and
WHEREAS, a recent outbreak of TB in Illinois demonstrates that maintaining control of TB in Chicago requires strengthening current TB control and prevention systems, and progress toward the elimination of TB cannot occur without mobilizing support and engaging in global TB prevention and control; and
WHEREAS, this year's World TB Day local theme of "Addressing TB in High-Risk Groups" and global theme of "Stop TB In My Lifetime" recognize that tuberculosis prevention and control is possible, that every individual can have a role in stopping TB, and that Chicago is committed to working toward the elimination of tuberculosis; now, therefore
Alderman - 26m Ward
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this thi...
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