The Tuberculosis Association of Ohio County--History Page 3

On April 10, 1951, the name of the organization was changed to the Tuberculosis Association of Ohio County. The change in name reflected the changes that were occurring in the treatment and control of tuberculosis. As the war against tuberculosis waged on, other drugs were being used to help those suffering with this formerly fatal disease. Isoniazid and pyrazinamide were being used on strains that were now resistant to streptomycin.

The TB Patch Test became available as a screening mechanism in 1952 and was provided by the Association for all Ohio County school children. Ohio County ranking 9th in population state wide, had the lowest death rate from tuberculosis of any of the 13 largest counties. The rate was 8.4 deaths per 100,000 population, while the rate in West Virginia was 16.0, and in the United States, 16.1.

During 1953, the Association

endeavored to inform citizens of Ohio County about basic facts concerning tuberculosis and how it is spread. Ohio County's death rate from tuberculosis was 5.6 per 100,000 population, compared with 13.9 state wide and 12.5 nationally. The Association sponsored a x-ray project at the Ohio Valley Better Homes Show in May 1954, with a x-ray unit furnished by the State Department of Health. There were 1631 x-rays taken, with one active case of tuberculosis discovered. Later that year, the Association assisted the City/County and State Health Departments to plan and conduct a 12-day survey. The State's mobile unit took 5490 x-rays.

On May 1, 1960, City Council passed a ruling stating that all food handlers in Ohio County had to have a chest x-ray prior to issuance of a food handler's card. From May 1, 1960 to March 31,1967, a total of 3711 food handlers employed in Ohio County were x-rayed at the Association's office. As new and better drugs were introduced, ethamubutol and rifampin as anti-T.B. agents, the late 60's saw a decline in tuberculosis. Sanatoriums throughout the United States closed. Government funding for TB Control programs decreased.