Two million people die each year due to the ailment representing
25 percent of the total of preventable deaths in adults in
developing nations.
The situation has worsened in the American continent and in many
countries the increase is due to poverty, unequal access to
health care in addition to an increase in marginalized
populations and migration in search for better living
conditions.
According to the World Health Organization, WHO, Haiti, followed
by Bolivia, Guyana and Peru have the highest incidence rate,
while the major cases reported are in Brazil, Peru and Mexico.
Cuba currently has a program of Tuberculosis Control with a rate
of 7 per 100 000 inhabitants and is among the nations in the
region on its way to eliminating the disease, alongside Canada,
United States, Uruguay, Chile and Costa Rica.
Doctor Antonio Marrero, representative of the National Group of
Respiratory Ailments from the Health Ministry explained that the
program includes promotion and education actions in primary
health care aimed at strengthening community participation.
He reiterated that TB is transmitted by air similar to a common
cold; by cough, sneezing, speaking, laughing, singing or
spitting, air is expelled with the germs of the disease.
It generally affects the lungs, but could also affect other
parts of the body like the brain, kidney or the spinal cord and
if it is not treated on time could cause death, said Marrero.
Smokers, diabetics, those infected by HIV-Aids and senior
citizens are among the most vulnerable groups.
For a healthy person to get tuberculosis, they must have been in
direct contact with the sick person for a period of days, said
the Cuban specialist.
According to specialists, a person with active TB that has not
been treated, infects an average of 10 to 15 individuals more
each year, however not all infected develop the disease.
World Fight against Tuberculosis Day is held every March 24th
and Cuba has the lowest incidence rate in Latin America with
important actions aimed at prevention and treatment of the
disease that can be prevented and cured.
