CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS ARE DOWN IN NEW MEXICO. THERE WERE 40 CASES HERE LAST YEAR … THE LOWEST NUMBER SINCE 2005. BUT NEW MEXICANS ARE STILL THREE TIME MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM TB THAN OTHER AMERICANS. THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT'S BECAUSE TREATMENT IS TOO OFTEN DELAYED.
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY 15 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS DIAGNOSED WITH TB EACH YEAR USUALLY DIE. OF THE 40 PEOPLE DIAGNOSED LAST YEAR, SIX DIED OF THE DISEASE.
SYMPTOMS INCLUDE COUGHS THAT LAST MORE THAN THREE WEEKS, NIGHT SWEATS, LOSS OF APPETITE, AND FATIGUE.
