Monday 21 March 2011

TUBERCULOSIS: Hong King: TB is still a threat

Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Acting Director of Health, Dr Thomas Tsang, today (March 19) urged members of the public to stay vigilant against tuberculosis (TB), which remains a major infectious disease across the world.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark 2011 World TB Day, Dr Tsang said TB is still a threat to the health of Hong Kong people despite improvements to the living environment and healthcare quality and that continued caution is advisable.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there were more than nine million new TB cases in 2009, claiming some 1.7 million lives worldwide.
In Hong Kong, there were around 5,000 cases in 2010, with a rate of some 70 cases per 100,000 population, a historical low compared with previous years.
However, Dr Tsang expressed concern over the emergence of drug-resistant TB, which had become a global challenge to healthcare workers in recent years.
"The emergence of drug-resistant TB is largely related to the improper use of drugs by patients who may not take all their medicines regularly for the required period. To effectively prevent TB, the Hong Kong Government has adopted the 'Directly Observed Treatment' (DOT) method recommended by the WHO since the 1970s," Dr Tsang noted.
Under DOT, TB patients take medication regularly and complete the course of drug therapy under the direct observation of healthcare staff to minimise the possibility of drug-resistance.
"The Department of Health (DH) also keeps watch on the latest trend of TB through its TB surveillance system and takes precautions in a timely manner," he added.
Dr Tsang called for support and co-operation from the community in the battle against TB.
The theme of the 2011 World TB Day campaign kicked off by today's ceremony is "On the move against tuberculosis: Transforming the fight towards elimination", which stresses timely diagnosis and effective treatment to stop TB.
The ceremony was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority. A two-day exhibition and educational activities will be held to disseminate the anti-TB message.
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association, Mr Edwin C C Leung, and the Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Mr Anthony Wu, were among the officiating guests.
The public can call the DH's TB hotline 2572 6024 for more TB-related information, or visit the website (www.info.gov.hk/tb_chest) jointly developed by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, or the WHO website (www.who.int/gtb).
http://7thspace.com/headlines/376187/vigilance_against_tuberculosis_urged.html

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