Tawau's TB situation worsens
Published on: Saturday, December 15, 2018
Tawau: The district is ranked as second after Kota Kinabalu for recording a higher number of tuberculosis (TB) cases.Last year Tawau was in third place.Advisor of Sabah Tuberculosis Prevention Association (Sabata) Tawau, Peter Lu Yit Pin said the number of TB cases in Tawau was increasingly dramatically. Since January, the TB Clinic Tawau has reported 385 cases compared to 409 cases for the whole of last year.
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This year, the Forecast Analysis for the Morbidity of Tuberculosis in Tawau was 505 cases, as stated by Tawau TB Clinic. Peter believed the number of TB cases will increase by the end of this year.He told the media this during a courtesy call together with Sabata Tawau committee at Tawau TB Clinic at the new Tawau Health Department. Also present were Dr Nazri Ahmad and Dr B/rukhshana.
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"The increase in TB case is much related with the entry of foreigners or non-documented immigrants to Tawau where the hotspot areas were in Kg Kurnia Jaya Batu 4 and Pasir Putih here. "Persons with TB spread the disease to other people through the air.
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"The treatment for TB usually takes six months but also depend on the patients' condition. Some with complicated condition may need nine months or up to one year treatment while some needs daily injection," Peter said.Meanwhile, President of Sabata Tawau, Jessie Hiew, urges those who have TB symptoms such as coughing non-stop for two weeks, no appetite and on and off fever must immediately go to the Tawau TB Clinic for checking and treatment.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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