1474 NEW CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS IN 2009 IN ARMENIA

Aysor
March 24 2010
Armenia

Tuberculosis (T.B.) is one of the hardest issues of the healthcare
both in Armenia and in all over the world. Armenia too celebrates
the international day of tuberculosis today.

In the office of the national projects on T.B. Alexander Ghukasyan,
the deputy minister of the Healthcare mentioned that though T.B. is
a curable disease it spreads threatening the health of millions
of people.

"Regardless the growth of the T.B. cases since 1990, we notice
stabilization of the epidemic parameters," A. Ghukasyan mentioned.

According to him 1474 new cases of T.B. have been recorded in 2009.

Narine Mezhlumyan, statistician in National T.B. control program
informed that the World Health Organization for the T.B. treatment
has worked out the strategy DOTS which is effectively used in almost
all the countries of the world.

"As a result of the straggling against T.B. the entire anti
tuberculosis service is supplied with all necessary equipments,
medicines. The treatment of T.B. in Armenia is completely free of
charge," Mezhlumyan said.

In case of not getting treatment on time the infected person infects
10 – 15 people in a year. 50% of those who do not get treatment die in
5 years. That is why the experts advise to pass a medical examination
in case of finding the first symptoms of the disease.