Tuberculosis remains major health problem in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem in Sabah with 3,993 cases recorded in the first 10 months of this year, said State Health and Wellbeing Minister Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt.

He said last year 5,106 cases were recorded.

Of the total number of TB cases recorded from 2013 to 2016, about 25 to 30 per cent of the cases involved foreigners," he said in reply to the Matbali Musah (BN-Lumadan) during question-and answer session in the State Assembly sitting today.

Wong added that last year, Kinabatangan recorded the highest percentage of TB infection among foreigners with 68 per cent, followed by Kunak (53 per cent), Lahad Datu (50 per cent) and Semporna (47 per cent).

He said to curb the spread of the disease among foreigners, Growarisan panel doctors will conduct screening on 107,584 foreign workers entering Sabah.

Screening would also be performed on patients’ contacts, high-risk patients such as diabetic mellitus and kidney patients, HIV sufferers and senior citizens, he added.

--BERNAMA