Thursday 28th of March 2024, 11:51 CET
Tuberculosis in South-East Romania
March 25, 2003
Associated Press

Posted by HW on March 28, 2024

Worst outbreak in 25 years
Romania is faced with the worst outbreak of tuberculosis in more than 25 years, with six people dying each day due to the disease, a doctor said Tuesday.

Poverty and neglect
Paul Stoicescu, who runs the Lung Disease Commission of the Health Ministry, said by telephone that poverty and people neglecting their health were the main causes of the disease. He said most cases occurred in poorer areas in Romania's southeast.

82 cases each day
The rate of tuberculosis is at its highest level in 27 years, he said, with 82 new cases reported every day, of which 57 are contagious. Some 2,100 people died last year from the disease.

Infant tuberculosis
Stoicescu said Romania is plagued with one of the highest rates of infant tuberculosis in Europe, with five children diagnosed with the disease every day according to the most recent statistics from 2002.

More money
In an attempt to curb its spread, authorities plan to allocate some 220 billion lei (US$6.7 million) to combat the disease, which will be supplemented with foreign money, Health Minister Daniela Bartos said.

Spread
Tuberculosis is spread when a person with an active TB bacillus coughs or sneezes and others breathe in the infectious airborne bacteria. Symptoms include a prolonged cough, loss of appetite and night sweats.
 
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