143 years ago, a physician-scientist in Germany unlocked a key to understanding a debilitating cause of chronic disability and death for much of human history. By discovering the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium through his microscope’s lens, Dr. Robert Koch drew a clear connection between a nearly invisible organism and the common, and commonly fatal, tuberculosis infection.
For public health and medical professionals, the look back at TB charts a record of positive progress and life-saving advancements. TB cases within Erie County are rare. Six new cases have been reported to date for 2025, and eight cases from 2024 are being treated by the Erie County Department of Health’s (ECDOH) Tuberculosis Control program. Since 2012, there have been 1-2 cases per 100,000 residents each year within Erie County.
Once a major cause of death and chronic illness, TB is not commonly seen within the United States because of stringent, focused programs – like the one in Erie County – that provide testing, monitor treatment and limit community exposure. TB can be transmitted by someone with an active TB infection in their lungs or throat as they talk or cough. It is not transmitted through casual contact.
“We want to use March 24 as a reminder for physicians and healthcare providers to consider tuberculosis when evaluating patients, particularly when they present with rapid weight loss, persistent respiratory symptoms or multiple recurrences of pneumonia, or report time spent living in countries where tuberculosis is prevalent,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “Once a case is diagnosed, our department can support the contact tracing and treatment that are essential to stopping the spread of this illness.”
Risk factors for being exposed to TB or developing TB include:
- Being immunocompromised
- A diabetes or HIV diagnosis
- Unregulated drug use
- Experiencing or have experienced homelessness
- Living or spending time in an area where tuberculosis is common – some parts of Africa, Asia and Central or South America
- Inadequate/incomplete TB treatment
Tuberculosis symptoms include:
- Low-grade fever
- Night sweats
- Weakness and fatigue
- Weight loss
- A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
- Pain in the chest
- Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
Erie County’s Tuberculosis Clinic, located at the Jesse Nash Health Center at 608 William Street in Buffalo, takes referrals from hospitals and doctor’s offices for potential active TB cases and for individuals who have latent TB exposure. Physicians, healthcare professionals and Erie County residents can call (716) 858-2172 with questions.
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