Tuberculosis incidence in the Vitebsk region decreases by 2% annually

March 18, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Tuberculosis incidence in the Vitebsk region is decreasing by an average of 2% annually. This was announced today at a press conference dedicated to World Tuberculosis Day by the chief freelance phthisiatrician of the Vitebsk region, chief physician of the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Tuberculosis Dispensary Svetlana Gapanovich, a BELTA correspondent reports. A positive trend has been observed in the region since 2005. At the same time, no cases of generalized forms of tuberculosis, particularly meningitis, have been detected. Isolated cases of illness in the early stages among children under 18 and healthcare workers are noted. The mortality rate from this disease has decreased by more than 30% over the past period, and among all causes of death, tuberculosis accounts for less than 0.5%, stated the chief phthisiatrician of the region. In 2010, 464 people contracted tuberculosis in the Vitebsk region, which is 22 fewer compared to the previous year; seven cases of the disease were detected among children and adolescents. Svetlana Gapanovich also emphasized the importance of regular fluorography examinations, which help detect the disease in its early stages. "In the Vitebsk region, over 80% of the adult population undergoes this type of examination annually. For example, last year this figure was 85.4%. In rural areas, a continuous examination method is practiced," she noted. World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated by decision of the World Health Organization on the day when in 1882, German microbiologist Robert Koch announced his discovery of the tuberculosis pathogen. In 1993, WHO declared tuberculosis a national disaster and March 24 as World Tuberculosis Day. -0-