22 March 2011
World Tuberculosis Day (Thursday 24 March) aims to raise awareness about the burden of TB and what can be done to prevent and control the disease. This marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch detected the cause of TB, the micro-organism, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
"Detecting the TB organism is one of the first steps in diagnosing this disease and enables appropriate and curative treatment to begin," said Centre for Disease Control Director and Head of TB Services, Dr Vicki Krause.
"Tuberculosis is a major global health problem. Each year worldwide, there are 9 million new TB cases and 2 million deaths from the disease.
"It is important to remember that TB can develop many years after someone has been in contact with an active case of TB. Also, the emergence of new drug resistant strains of TB is a serious health challenge.
"With so much TB in so many parts of the world, Australia remains at risk of cases occurring, with about 1200 cases being reported each year," Dr Krause said.
"TB will continue to occur in Australia until there is better worldwide control. It is not surprising that TB rates here are highest in the overseas-born population, although higher rates are also seen in the Aboriginal population, especially in settings with high rates of chronic diseases and overcrowding.
"We have one of the lowest rates of TB and excellent TB control programs, but vigilance in screening and the ability to treat and follow up cases is absolutely vital."
Dr Krause said the Northern Territory public health system's commitment to TB control includes effective refugee screening, contact tracing, preventive treatment for potential TB cases, observed treatment for active cases and high standard laboratory work on disease identification and drug testing.
"Over the past three years 99 cases of TB have been notified in the NT. Of these, 52 per cent were in people born overseas and 39 per cent were Aboriginal people."
All people in the NT identified as having TB are given information about the disease, as well as confidential free clinical services and treatment. Contacts are followed up to allow for early diagnosis and are offered preventive treatment to minimise the risk of further transmission.
"TB is both a curable and preventable disease when it is detected and effectively treated," Dr Krause said.
"This year's global campaign looks at the fight against TB, saying that, "Every step we take should be a step towards TB elimination."
Contact: Robin Osborne, Media Director, (08) 8999 2886 - 0488 692 781
