Tuberculosis hits poor

Tuberculosis hits poor

MELAK, East Kalimantan: Tuberculosis in Melak regency reaches
is greatest prevalence among the poor, West Kutai Health Office
director Maria Laurasari said on Thursday.

Maria said that a survey conducted in six villages in the
regency found 36 tuberculosis cases among 4,241 people.

"We estimated the number of people affected at only 19, but it
turns out that the figure is much higher. There are at least 66
people suffering from tuberculosis in these villages," she
explained.

Maria said that one tuberculosis patient could infect up to 20
other people. Tuberculosis, which is caused by the Mycobacterium
Tuberculosis bacterium, is communicable through the air.

The World Health Organization said in a recent report that the
country's Annual Risk of Infection from tuberculosis was 13 in
every 1,000 people. --Antara