KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 – Improving detection and raising awareness are needed to eradicate tuberculosis (TB), a Malaysian official said on Sunday.
Citing an increase in deaths from 2,572 in 2022 to 2,623 in 2023, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said in a statement that efforts were underway to counter the disease. His statement came on the occasion of the World Tuberculosis Day, which is marked on March 24 every year.
“Tuberculosis continues to pose a major disease burden in Malaysia. The current statistics are worrisome and adversely affect the quality of life for the Malaysian population. With the availability of curative TB treatments, efforts to detect and initiate early treatment need to be intensified,” he said.
“Misconceptions surrounding tuberculosis symptoms, such as attributing them to sorcery, witchcraft, or hereditary diseases, must be dispelled, to ensure that individuals experiencing symptoms promptly seek examination and treatment at nearby health clinics and hospitals,” he added.
An infectious disease, TB mainly affects lung. It is one of leading killer diseases responsible for the deaths of 1.3 million people in 2022, according to the Global TB Report 2023.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), TB is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and most often affects lung. TB spreads through the air when people with the disease cough, sneeze, or spit.
