Ignorance about TB resulted in 4,000 deaths, says official

Star: MACHANG (Kelantan): Ignorance about tuberculosis (TB) has resulted in nearly 4,000 deaths from the disease in Peninsular Malaysia in the past four years, with Kelantan registering the most number of cases.
The number is increasing and TB has become the main public health concern in the state, said Kelantan health department director Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Maher.
The state has recorded 676 deaths up to June this year since the past four years. This compared to 3,933 fatal cases over the same period for the whole of peninsular Malaysia.
“Although there are adequate medication to combat the disease, late diagnosis due to the patients’ lack of attention, has seen deaths increasing together with higher rate of infection, '' Dr Ahmad Razin said in his speech at the opening of the state level World Tuberculosis Day here on Friday.