Press Releases
Continuous efforts needed to stop TB (with photo)
The community should always be on the alert to prevent and fight against
tuberculosis (TB) although the annual reported cases in Hong Kong had been
maintained at around 6,000 with a stable downward trend in recent years.
Officiating at the ceremony marking the annual World TB Day today (March 24),
the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, said that continuous
collaborative efforts were essential in the fight against TB as the disease
remained a global threat and ranked high among the world's most popular
infectious diseases.
Dr Chow thanked the community members and non-governmental organisations for
their efforts in combating the disease.
The World TB Day was set on March 24 by the WHO to heighten public awareness on
the importance of timely diagnosis and effective treatment for TB patients to
prevent the spread of the disease.
This year, the WHO reported that extensive drug-resistant TB cases (XDR-TB) were
confirmed in different parts of the world and called for immediate efforts to
stop the situation from worsening.
Cases are defined as XDR-TB if the bacteria are resistant to at least two main
first-line anti-TB drugs and some major second-line drugs.
In Hong Kong, XDR-TB cases currently account for about 0.1 % of the total
bacteriologically positive (TB germs can be cultured from sputum samples) TB
cases and the risk is regarded as relatively low.
The Director of Health, Dr P Y Lam, who also officiated at the event, pointed
out that the incubation period of TB could be very long and the community should
be vigilant against it.
He said the "Directly Observed Treatment" (DOT) recommended by the WHO had been
adopted in Hong Kong since 1970s with remarkable results.
Dr Lam called on TB patients to take medication regularly and complete the
course of drug therapy under the guidance of healthcare professionals, in order
to minimise the possibility of drug-resistant TB.
Through the network of the department's chest clinics in district levels,
diagnosis and treatment service were provided to TB patients free of charge to
ensure that all patients receive timely and effective treatment.
The department kept close track of the latest trend of TB in Hong Kong through
its TB surveillance system and took timely intervention where necessary to
combat the disease.
The TB Reference Laboratory under the Centre for Health Protection, which was
accredited by the WHO as a Supranational TB Reference Laboratory last year,
provides quality TB testing services, including drug susceptibility tests and
supports CHP in formulating the overall strategy on TB control.
Dr Lam stressed that there would be no let-go in the department's fight against
TB and it would maintain close co-operation with the Hong Kong Tuberculosis,
Chest and Heart Diseases Association, Hospital Authority, community member and
professional bodies to provide the public with information on TB prevention and
quality treatment services.
"People are encouraged to build up their resistance by adopting a healthy
lifestyle and getting adequate rest and exercise. They should also adhere to a
balanced diet and avoid smoking and drinking. Only with the support of the
community, we can successfully contain the disease," he said.
Today's ceremony also marked the launching of a range of health educational and
promotional activities to mobilise public support against TB.
Other officiating guests include the Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Mr
Anthony Wu, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases
Association, Mr Y L Pang.
More information on TB is available from the Department's Tuberculosis and Chest
Service hotline at 2572 6024. People can also visit the website jointly
developed by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority at
http://www.info.gov.hk/tb_chest or
the WHO website at http://www.who.int/gtb.
Ends/Saturday, March 24, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:00
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(Photo)