SIBU: Sarawak recorded 1,382 cases of tuberculosis (TB) until July 5 this year and an average rise in cases of 0.8 per cent yearly.
“About 100 cases or two per cent of the overall annual cases involved children below 15 years,” state health director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan said when asked on the number of TB cases in the state yesterday.
He pointed out that TB was still among the top 10 killer infectious diseases in the state.
Meanwhile, according to statistics from Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) of the state’s Health Department’s Communicable Disease Control Section for Epid Week 27 (June 29 to July 5), 25 TB cases were recorded for that period.
Based on the statistics, Kuching had the highest cumulative TB cases of 353, followed by Miri (214), Sibu (184), Bintulu (140) and Samarahan (110).
Sri Aman had 76 cases, Sarikei (72), Mukah (59), Betong (58) and Limbang (41).
Asked if there were any specific reasons for higher cases in cities and major towns, Dr Zulkifli said this was due to bigger populations and crowded conditions.
Towards this end, he explained that the disease was spread by droplets from coughs.
“Early treatment is crucial for those infected by TB,” he advised.
TB is a mandatory notifiable disease.
According to facts on global TB on the state Health Department’s website, TB is a disease of poverty affecting mostly young adults in the most productive age.
It further stated that 95 per cent of deaths from TB occur in developing countries.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the symptoms of TB may include a bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer, pain in the chest, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever, sweating at night and coughing up blood.