Sunset Park Has Highest Tuberculosis Rate In NYC, Health Dep Says

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — New data from the health department shows that even though cases of tuberculosis are on the decline city-wide, some areas like Sunset Park are still struggling with high rates of the disease. Sunset Park was the neighborhood with the highest rate of tuberculosis cases last year, according to the report.

The health department data, released in recognition of World Tuberculosis Day, found that 559 people were diagnosed with TB throughout the city in 2018, an 8 percent drop from the year before.

“Following the rise in tuberculosis cases that we saw in 2017, we are pleased to see our case count decline," said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. "This success is a credit to the Health Department’s TB prevention and control efforts.”

But even so, officials said some groups and certain areas of the city are still disproportionately affected by the disease, which is caused by bacteria and could cause a persistent cough, chest pain, fever or coughing up blood. High-poverty neighborhoods, people born outside of the U.S. and children or seniors had increases or especially high rates of TB cases, the report said.

In Sunset Park, the rate of TB, 17.9 cases per 100,000 people, was the highest of any neighborhood and two times higher than the citywide rate, officials said. Certain areas of Queens, the borough with the most new cases, also saw double the city-wide rate. About 37 percent of the new cases of TB were found in Queens.

Health officials plan to hold testing and education events in West Queens and Sunset Park throughout May and June to help this "high burden of TB." Early testing and treatment can help cure the disease before it spreads, the department said.

“If you have a cough lasting more than three weeks or have spent time around someone with TB, ask your health care provider for a TB test," Barbot said. "Persons testing positive for active TB can get free treatment at one the Health Department’s Chest Centers.”

The departments four TB Chest Centers saw 7,800 patients last year. The clinics offer free, confidential TB testing, treatment, and care at each of the centers, located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.

Services are available evenings and weekends and regardless of immigration or insurance status.

To see the department's full report click here.