DOH logs 446,478 TB cases
MANILA, Philippines — Cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the country have been increasing, according to the Department of Health.
Latest data from the DOH’s Integrated Tuberculosis Information System showed that 446,478 cases were reported as of Sept. 30, 2023.
“This translates to a case notification rate of 400 cases per 100,000 population. This is nearing the 2022 CNR of 439 cases per 100,000 population,” the DOH said.
The report noted that 64 percent of the newly reported cases are male, 57 percent were clinically diagnosed and 98 percent pulmonary.
A clinically diagnosed TB case does not fulfill the criteria for bacteriological confirmation. It was diagnosed by a medical professional who advised the patient to take a full course TB treatment.
Pulmonary TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is contagious.
The DOH said the success rate of treatments was at 83 percent as of end-September 2023.
It advised the public to undergo regular checkup to assess their health condition.
“Early detection of TB leads to better treatment. Better treatment breaks the chain of transmission,” the DOH said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said TB is spread from person to person through the air.
“When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel TB germs into the air,” the WHO said. ”A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.”
