--- advertisement ---

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

One-On-One

Every Friday, News13’s Amy Hoyt talks with newsmakers about the most current topics around the panhandle, state and country. Elected leaders are held accountable and have the opportunity to answer the questions you want asked. Amy is one of this area’s most credible journalists and puts her experience to work for you. Here are her One on One interviews, past and present.

ahoyt@wmbb.com

Thursday, June 07, 2007

One on One: Dr. Jason Newsom

Tuberculosis is a bacteria that grows in your lungs and is contagious, but only if you are around a person who has an active case of it, and is coughing and wheezing and sneezing.  It is treatable with antibiotics, but since the bacteria grows slowly, it takes about six months to cure.

A rare strain of the illness has made national headlines recently. A 31 year old Georgia man went on his honeymoon, then snuck back into the U.S. for treatment.  He is in quarantine in a Goergia Hospital.  The strain he has is rare and does not respond to antibiotics.

Dr. Jason Newsom is the director for the Bay County Health Department.  He says only 4-6 people have TB in Bay County at this time and they are being treated.  Once treated, they are no longer contagious and no longer sick.

Antibiotics are given to the patient for six months and are administered by a county health department professional to make sure the patient is taking all of the antibiotics.

The symptoms are a regular cough, fatigue, weight loss and phlem with blood.  If you have any of these symptoms you should call your doctor.

To hear the extended interview with Dr. Newsom, click on the icon.

One-On-One • (0) Comments • Permalink

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page 1 of 1 pages