Three Deaths Linked to Tuberculosis Outbreak

State health officials say three people are dead amid a tuberculosis outbreak in the west Alabama town of Marion.  The health department says 20 people from the Perry County city of 3,500 have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness in the last year.  Four others have been diagnosed with TB around Tuscaloosa, and two in Centreville.  Health officials say those people are linked to cases in Marion.  The agency is planning a community meeting about the outbreak in Marion on Thursday.  It's offering $20 dollars each to Marion residents who come in for TB blood tests.  The city's rate of 253 cases per 100,000 people far exceeds the state rate of 2.5 cases per 100,000 people.  The department says of the 26 tuberculosis patients, three adults have died.