Over 25K new TB cases in Morocco in 2007

from Maghreb Arabe Presse

Casablanca, Some 25,500 new tuberculosis (TB) cases were documented in Morocco in 2007, health ministry officials said on Monday.

Speaking at a meeting organized by Health Ministry, on the occasion of world TB day - celebrated each March 24- the participants noted that the incidence of the disease has increased to 82 cases per 100,000 inhabitants at the national level, while its annual regression remains low (2 to 3%).

They added that 70% of cases, including 57% of men, were diagnosed in the most urbanized and populated areas, notably around major cities, pointing out that 55% of the cases are of pulmonary TB while the rest are of extra-pulmonary TB.

The meeting was an opportunity to present the 2006-2015 TB national strategic plan. It aims at speeding up the regression of the disease, maintaining the rate of detection and treatment success to over 90% and slashing by half the TB prevalence and mortality in 2015, in accordance with the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attacks the lungs, but it can also damage other parts of the body. TB spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or talks.

It is estimated that nearly 1 billion people will be infected, over 150Mn will become sick, and 36Mn will die worldwide between now and 2020 if control is not further strengthened. Each year there are more than 9 million cases and close to 2 million deaths attributed to TB.