The Perry County Health Department will pay people to be screened and treated for tuberculosis after an outbreak has resulted in at least three deaths.

Since January 2014, there have been 26 cases of TB linked to Perry County. Specifically, 20 patients are from Marion, four are from the Tuscaloosa area and two are from Centreville. Of those 26 patients, four are children.

So far, three adults have died since the outbreak began this time last year.

The numbers add up to a TB case rate of 253 per 100,000 residents in the town of Marion, which has a population of approximately 3,600.

By comparison, the TB case rate for the entire state of Alabama was 2.5 per 100,000 residents in 2015.

“This is so important and of such concern that we are giving monetary incentives to people who come in for screening and necessary treatment,” said Pam Barrett, director of the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Division of TB Control.

From Jan. 11 through Jan. 29, the Perry County Health Department will give the following incentives:

*$20 to anyone coming in to be screened for TB by the TSPOT blood test.

*Another $20 for returning after three days to get test results.

*A third $20 for keeping an appointment to get a chest X-ray if it is recommended.

*An additional $100 for completing treatment if it’s recommended for a patient to take medicine.

Perry County is the only local health department that will offer money to patients for tuberculosis screening and treatment.

The Alabama Department of Public Health has sent in additional nurses and investigators to try to find patients and provide preventive measures to those who might have been exposed to TB.

Symptoms of TB include a cough that lasts for more than two weeks, shortness of breath, fever, night sweats, weight loss and fatigue.

A person may be infected with the TB germ and have no symptoms. Patients can be treated preventively before becoming ill.

Testing will be done on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Perry County Health Department, 1748 S. Washington St., Marion.

All services are provided at no charge. No appointment is needed for this service.

For further information or questions, contact Barrett at (334) 467-8208 or pam.barrett@adph.state.al.us.