Health

TB rates on the decline
by Barbora Misakova

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacteria which usually attacks the lungs. It is spread through air, so when one person has the disease and he coughs or sneezes while traveling on the bus or subway, anyone who gets in touch with that person can be infected as well. Even though the times when this disease was a major cause of death and illness are already gone, it can still result in death – especially when the disease is left untreated. TB kills more than 50 percent of its victims. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported this week the nation’s tuberculosis rate dropped more than 11 percent. In comparison with last years, when t! he TB rates have been falling generally about 4 percent, this is the largest single-year decrease in more than 50 years. Such a big drop was unexpected and so the experts are cautious about celebrating. Although final report is due in the fall, some factors which caused this drop are already known. First of all stepped up screening and treatment of immigrants can be responsible for this drop. Screening them before they leave their native countries can significantly decrease the number of infected people. The screening changes were made in 2007 and they guarantee that any immigrant suspected of having TB will be completely tested and will also receive at least 6 months of treatment. Development of antibiotics and public health efforts could be other factors which influenced decrease of TB rates. And decrease from 4.2 cases per 100,000 people to 3.8 is significant indeed.

related story (sgx16821): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100319/ap_on_he_me/us_med_tuber...

by Barbora Misakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

Cantell TV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with telecommunications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface coupled with free phone calls. Cantell TV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers.

posted by Blog TechSource @ 12:13 AM