Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

TB tops killer diseases

Special Correspondent

Of the total TB patients in the world, 28 per cent of them live in India

KURNOOL: G. Kullayappa, retired Professor of Chest Diseases, has said Tuberculosis has emerged as the largest killer among all diseases.

Talking to reporters on the eve of World TB Day on March 24 as part of creating awareness among public, he said the situation was very alarming in India with one third of population getting infected by the bacteria. About 90 lakhs of the infected population developed TB and five lakh of them died every year.

Dr. Kullayappa said an untreated TB patient would infect 20 healthy people and two of them would develop TB. Of the total TB patients in the world, 28 per cent of them live in India.

He said an affected person could be completely cured of the disease if treated early. Also, the diagnosis was very simple for TB when compared to other diseases.

He said TB was no longer the problem of Government but of society and family. Community should take initiative to tackle the disease by forming village committees to help patients use medicines properly.

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