TB incidence rose in 2011

In 2011 the incidence of tuberculosis rose by 1.5% on the previous year to 113 cases per 100,000 people, according to the Ministry of Health. There were registered 3,802 new cases last year, including 226 among children, Info-Prim Neo reports. Despite a 13.4% drop compared to 2010, the death rate from tuberculosis remains quite high, at 15 deaths per 100,000 . This information was presented at a scientific conference titled “Stopping Tuberculosis during Our Generation” on the occasion of the World Tuberculosis Day on March 24. Deputy Health Minister Viorel Soltan has noted that Moldova has a network of advanced laboratories, a network of 10 community centers for the prevention of this disease across the country, and offers free universal treatment; however, the situation remains rather alarming. Particularly worrying is that in many cases the disease is diagnosed at a late stage. This explains the high rate of the destructive forms of TB, which accounted for 37.9% of the new cases registered last year. In these cases the risk of transmission significantly increases if the infected persons are often in contact with family members or colleagues at work. Moldova has the highest rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis, of around 65% of the previously treated patients.