BOSTON – Dr. Edward Parsons, of Tyngsborough, was recognized with a TB Honor Roll Award at the World No TB Day event held at the Massachusetts Statehouse on March 26.

The Medical Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Tuberculosis, a group of physicians and other TB experts focused on Massachusetts, held the event, which was attended by legislators, Department of Public Health officials, physicians, nurses and community members.

Parsons was honored for his work at Lowell General Hospital’s TB Clinic. He has been addressing the highly infectious and deadly disease in the region for more than 20 years – even after retiring from his own practice.

In addition to the award, Parsons received state citations from Sen. Eileen Donoghue and Reps. Colleen Garry, Kevin Murphy, David Nangle and Thomas Golden.

During the event, physicians and TB experts presented key information about the disease’s impact on the health, safety and economy of Massachusetts.

“More than 300,000 residents of Massachusetts are living with TB infection. That’s five Fenway Parks full of people living with TB infection,” said Cynthia Tschampl, Government Relations Subcommittee co-chairwoan for the Medical Advisory Committee.

TB is the second-leading cause of infectious death worldwide (behind only HIV) and can be passed by activities as innocent as breathing in the vicinity of a person with the contagious form of the disease.

“Three deaths occur every minute of every day due to TB,” said Sue Etkind, of Milton, who won the TB Hero Award and is STOP TB USA’s executive director. “This is a completely preventable, treatable and curable disease.”

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