Press Releases
World Tuberculosis Day 2001
23 March 2001
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23 Mar 2001
Tuberculosis or TB remains a major public health problem around the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared TB a "Global Emergency" and has designated 24 March as World TB Day. WHO has estimated that globally, TB kills about 5,000 people a day or 2 million people a year.
TB is an air borne disease transmitted through respiratory droplets from a person with the disease. Infected persons may present with prolonged cough, chest pain and blood in the sputum. There is sometimes associated fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, loss of weight and fatigue. The disease can be cured with proper drug treatment, which usually takes about 6 to 9 months. Persons who do not complete the full course of treatment may continue to be infectious and may develop drug resistant TB.
To combat the problem of TB, in April 1997, the Ministry of Health embarked on the Singapore Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP). The key component of the STEP is early diagnosis and proper treatment of patients with TB. This will cure and prevent further transmission of the disease and emergence of drug resistant TB.
In 2000, the incidence rate of TB declined to 47 new cases per 100,000 resident population, from 57 per 100,000 in 1998. There were 1,525 new cases of TB in 2000, 16% fewer than in 1998. Men accounted for two-thirds (71%) of new TB cases in Singapore. About 53% of the cases were aged 50 years and above. During the year, there were 97 TB deaths, accounting for 0.6% of total deaths. However, Singapore's incident rate of TB is still much higher than many developed countries e.g. Australia (5 per 100,000) and the United States (7 per 100,000).
The Ministry would like to advise those who have been exposed to persons with TB or who have symptoms of the disease to consult a doctor. Those who have been diagnosed to have TB are urged to be compliant with their treatment to ensure cure of the disease.
23 Mar 2001
Tuberculosis or TB remains a major public health problem around the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared TB a "Global Emergency" and has designated 24 March as World TB Day. WHO has estimated that globally, TB kills about 5,000 people a day or 2 million people a year.
TB is an air borne disease transmitted through respiratory droplets from a person with the disease. Infected persons may present with prolonged cough, chest pain and blood in the sputum. There is sometimes associated fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, loss of weight and fatigue. The disease can be cured with proper drug treatment, which usually takes about 6 to 9 months. Persons who do not complete the full course of treatment may continue to be infectious and may develop drug resistant TB.
To combat the problem of TB, in April 1997, the Ministry of Health embarked on the Singapore Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP). The key component of the STEP is early diagnosis and proper treatment of patients with TB. This will cure and prevent further transmission of the disease and emergence of drug resistant TB.
In 2000, the incidence rate of TB declined to 47 new cases per 100,000 resident population, from 57 per 100,000 in 1998. There were 1,525 new cases of TB in 2000, 16% fewer than in 1998. Men accounted for two-thirds (71%) of new TB cases in Singapore. About 53% of the cases were aged 50 years and above. During the year, there were 97 TB deaths, accounting for 0.6% of total deaths. However, Singapore's incident rate of TB is still much higher than many developed countries e.g. Australia (5 per 100,000) and the United States (7 per 100,000).
The Ministry would like to advise those who have been exposed to persons with TB or who have symptoms of the disease to consult a doctor. Those who have been diagnosed to have TB are urged to be compliant with their treatment to ensure cure of the disease.