200 TB cases found in nightspots
Over the past year, 186 cases of suspected tuberculosis have been found at more than 800 night venues in Bangkok, of which 24 have been confirmed.
“If we can identify TB at its early stage, there’s a good chance of full recovery and of preventing the spread of the disease,” Somsak Akksilp, deputy director-general of the Disease Control Department, said yesterday.
Screenings were conducted on 15,982 people with the financial support of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Night staff often lack adequate rest and their workplaces are usu
ally crowded and not ventilated, so they have a higher risk of contracting TB.
Authorities have been educating them about this communicable disease.
Symptoms include chronic coughing lasting more than two weeks, low fever, lack of appetite and weight loss.
Porntep Siriwanarangsun, director-general of the department, said there were about 110,000 TB patients in the country.