THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE

TB (Tuberculosis) is considered as the prototypic disease of airborne transmission. TB causing bacteria spread from person to person in tiny microscopic droplets when a TB patient coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings, or laughs. TB is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that affects the lungs and the condition is known as pulmonary tuberculosis whereas when the infection is outside the lungs and affects other internal body parts it is known as extra pulmonary TB.

The theme for this year World TB Day is ‘Unite to End TB’. As per the World Health Organisation globally over 4,000 people lose their lives every day to this infectious disease. Of the 9 million people a year that get sick with TB, most of the burdened by tuberculosis are those that are poor, vulnerable and marginalized, while around 3 million of them are ‘missed’ by health systems.

Under the NMMC health department, in 2010 new positive cases recorded was 631, 692 in 2011, 650 in 2012, 672 in 2013, and 661 in 2014. While relapse cases recorded in 2010 was 109, 110 in 2011, 306 in 2012, 149 in 2013, and 169 in 2014.

We have involved around 10 NGOs who will be doing different activities like poster exhibition, speech competition, camps, slide presentation, audiovisual presentations throughout the week. DR VASANT MANE, health in-charge of tuberculosis department, NMMC