JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The CDC says Jacksonville is at the center of the worst TB outbreak the country has seen in 20 years.
A record number of cases among the city's homeless population has prompted health officials to go out into the streets, and actively search for homeless people infected with TB and anyone those people may have come into contact with.
After six weeks, Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong said Friday they've found and tested almost everyone.
"We have screened nearly the entire homeless population. That means that out of an estimated 2533 homeless we have screened 2525. That's 99% of the entire homeless population in Duval County," he said.
He says the results of those tests are promising. Last month, the Health Department reported 42 cases of active TB in Jacksonville, 15 of the cases are from the same strain. Thanks to identification and treatment, Dr. Armstrong says that number is significantly lower.
He said, "We have found only one active case of tuberculosis."
One active case and 311 latent cases, which are not contagious. Dr. Armstrong says it's a sign their intensified efforts are working. "We are committed to seeing this investigation through to conclusion."
More than anything, he says the test results should send a clear message to the city. He said, "The people in Duval County and Jacksonville have been and remain safe."
