Tuberculosis cases reported in Chicago and statewide have continued to drop, public health officials said Friday.
Chicago had 463 cases in 1999, down from 473 in 1998. Illinois went from 850 tuberculosis cases in 1998 to 825 last year.
Health officials said the statistics showed headway in their attempts to lower the disproportionately high number of African-Americans infected by the disease. While the overall population had a 2 percent decrease in new tuberculosis cases from 1998 to 1999, the black community had an 8 percent decrease, officials said.
Tuberculosis is a contagious sickness that is spread through the air. It typically affects the lungs, and its symptoms include fatigue, weight loss and chronic coughing.
The statistics were released to mark World TB Day.
