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