Tuberculosis strikes 7,041 in 2012

The municipal health authority identified 7,041 new active cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in 2012, about half of which were infectious, the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau said Sunday.

The health bureau, which disclosed the figures for World Tuberculosis Day, reported that the number of tuberculosis cases fell from 7,249 cases reported in the previous year.

The health bureau also found that more residents with local household registration got infected last year than residents from outside the city.

Tuberculosis remains the most deadly infectious disease in the city, the health bureau said.

The bacterium that causes the disease most often infects the lungs.

World Health Organization data shows that 8.7 million people fell ill with tuberculosis around the world in 2011. The disease killed 1.4 million of those infected.

Early symptoms of tuberculosis, such as coughing and sneezing, are mild and can last for months, which can cause those infected to delay treatment and spread the disease. The bacteria can be transmitted through the air by coughing and sneezing. One infected person can potentially infect 10 to 15 people.

Still, the disease remains very treatable. It is no longer transmittable two weeks after treatment begins, though it may take a patient six to eight months to fully recover, according to a report in the Xinmin Evening News.

Local officials advised residents not to ignore symptoms such as serious coughing, chest pains, weight loss, fever and night sweats, according to the report. They urged anyone with similar symptoms to visit a local community health clinic to receive a free chest X-ray and examination to prevent the spread of the disease, the report said.