'Pakistan ranks fifth among 22 highly Tuberculosis-affected countries'

Chest specialists Association office bearers said that Tuberculosis (TB) among infectious diseases is the second most common cause of death in the world. It takes almost 2 million lives every year. Delivering their speeches at a seminar on prevention of TB, Dr Abdul Shakoor, Tehmina Rafique, Zafar Ali syed, Muhammad Azam Mushtaq, and others said that a TB patient infects further 10-15 people every year.
Nine million new cases of the disease are occurring annually while more than 95 per cent of these cases are in the developing countries. Furthermore, 80 per cent of the cases occur amongst the people of 15-59 years old, representing a major economic burden for the patients and ultimately for countries. Pakistan ranks 5th among 22 highly affected countries where 80 per cent of TB cases are reported.
They said that Some 420,000 new patients of TB are reported every year in Pakistan. More than 50pc patient are women in the country. According to the statistics issued by the WHO on the World TB Day, about 270,422 cases were confirmed in the year 2011. Around 150,000 cases remained undetected and detection rate in 2011 is less than that of 2010.
They further informed that In 2010, the number remained 70% and 63% in 2011 while the success rate remained 91% in the year 2010. However, the success rate of 2011 had not been calculated till now. According to the WHO report, we have managed to bring down the 500 every 100,000 cases in 1990 to 364 per 100,000 in 2011, with a death rate of 78 per 100,000 in 1990 to 34 per 100,000 in 2011.
The government of Pakistan had adopted the TB- Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy in 1995 but it was implemented in 2000. The WHO is also assisting Pakistan to fight the disease. The speakers said that United Nation Secretary General has also written a letter to President Zardari and heads of the states of high burden countries urging them to pay more heed to control the disease. He urged communities to benefit from the available treatment.