Vietnam Detects 50,645 TB Patients, Treats 90% of Them in H1

Vietnam detected 50,645 of new tuberculosis (TB) cases in the first half (H1) of this year and treated 90% of them, according to the national committee on TB eradication. The committee released the information at a conference in Hanoi late last week to review its activities in H1 and outline tasks for H2. The committee noted that the number of pulmonary TB decreased by 357 cases y/y while the number of latent TB and non-lung TB rose by 921 and 252 cases y/y, respectively. The successful treatment rate of pulmonary TB remained high at 87.1%, meeting standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) but failing to fulfill the target set by the national TB elimination program at over 90%. In H2, the program will focus on detecting TB infection, especially drug-resistant cases, boosting public-private partnership, and applying advanced technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Currently, Vietnam is ranked 16th among 30 countries with the heaviest TB burden worldwide and 13th among 30 nations with the heaviest burden of drug-resistant TB. (Bao Chinh Phu, Nhan Dan, Suc Khoe Doi Song, giadinhmoi, Thanh Nien)