JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County Health Department is investigating a possible tuberculosis outbreak in Jacksonville.
While officials tell Action News that overall cases of TB in Duval County are down from last year, there has been a 16% increase in the local homeless population.
The health department is providing services for people infected, and all suspected cases are being treated as active TB.
In 2011, the Duval County Health Department confirmed 71 cases of active tuberculosis in the area.
So far in 2012, there are 27 confirmed cases in Duval County.
Tuberculosis is a disease that is spread from person to person through the air, and it usually affects the lungs.
Most cases of TB can be easily cured through medical treatments.
