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Tibet reports 5,000 new TB patients per year

The number of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Tibet increases by 5,000 every year, and the infectious patients accounts for 30 percent of the figure, according to a regional health official.

The global theme of the World TB Day in 2010 which fell on Wednesday was “On the Move Against Tuberculosis: Innovate to Accelerate Action.”

Dorje Gyaltsen, director of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Center for Disease Control (CDC), said, “Some farmers and herders in Tibet have little awareness of TB prevention. In some areas they account for 90 percent of the TB patients.”

China ranks second in the world in the number of TB patients and is one of the 22 countries with an arduous task to treat TB patients. Tibet has a high TB incidence, according to Tibet Business.

“This year Jiangtang Township in Shannan Prefecture, southeastern Tibet is selected as one of the 176 TB sample survey places in the country,” another official of the Regional CDC said.

“The Regional Government has been paying close attention to TB prevention and treatment,” he added.

“TB can be cured as long as patients are treated properly,” the official said, “People should foster a good health habit to prevent the disease.”

Copyright © 2010 Xinhua

Published in People's Daily Online