Ana Lopez-De Fede, director of health and family studies in USC's Institute for Families in Society, has been appointed to the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The appointment reflects Lopez-De Fede's work on the socio-cultural dimensions of health and her commitment to the elimination of tuberculosis through a partnership with S.C. DHEC.

The advisory council will provide advice and recommendations on the elimination of tuberculosis to the United States. The council also will make recommendations for policies, strategies, objectives, and priorities; address the development and application of new technologies; provide guidance and review on he CDC's Tuberculosis Prevention Research portfolio and programs; and review progress on the elimination of the disease.

Tuberculosis is a contagious but curable bacterial disease that spreads through the air, can attack any part of the body, but usually attacks the lungs, and can cause serious illness and even death if not treated. Tuberculosis remains a societal threat, and South Carolina has the highest number of TB cases among the southeastern states.

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