Tuberculosis rife in West Java

BANDUNG, West Java: An estimated 364,800 people suffering tuberculosis across the province badly need medical treatment, otherwise many more will be infected, a health official warned yesterday.

Marwan Awaludin, chairman of the Association for Tuberculosis Eradication, said medical treatment for patients will cost Rp 36 billion (US$17 million).

Awaludin said the high prevalence of contagious tuberculosis has to do with the fact that the bulk of West Java's 38 million population have low educational and economic status.

He said sufferers of tuberculosis increased by 96,000 every year. (pet/pan)