It was also confirmed that the reported cases of TB in Chuuk has been increasing over the past three years from 60 per 100,000 per year in 2006 to 100 in 2007 and 170 projected for 2008.
The FSM National Department of Health and Social Affairs has secured assistance from the following offices:
• Confirmatory laboratory in Hawaii and genotype laboratory in California with expert consultants. All these are being arranged and funded by the Centers of Disease Control.
• Potential available funding through the Office of Insular Affairs.
• Directly Observe Therapy training plan through Secretariat of the Pacific Community to begin next month.
• The World Health Organization is alerted for assistance with the international health regulations and travel advisory recommendations.
The FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs said there is no danger of travelers from outside Chuuk becoming infected with MDR TB by traveling to Chuuk.
In order for a traveler to be at risk for getting infected, they must spend a long period of time in a closed or unventilated space with an infectious patient.
For example, a traveler would have to go to the patient’s village and sleep in the same room with the patient, usually for many nights.
