THE local tuberculosis rate in 2001 was 15 times higher than the U.S. rate, primarily due to the large number of alien workers that had the disease.
Dr. Artin Mahmoudi, medical director of the Department of Public Health Services’ tuberculosis control program, said the CNMI had 85 cases per 100,000 population, while the U.S. case rate was only 5.6 per 100,000 population.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta, during Friday’s signing of the CNMI Tuberculosis Awareness Week proclamation, said: “Tuberculosis is a significant threat to public health.”
According to Mahmoudi, there are 58 cases of tuberculosis in the CNMI.
But government officials said the tuberculosis control program “has been successful,” and treatment rates exceeded 99 percent.
“Our program makes use of the directly observed therapy, which is the best way to treat tuberculosis,” said Mahmoudi, adding that the treatment is free of charge.
Nevertheless, “more action is needed to encourage adherence to treatment among individuals with inactive tuberculosis or infection,” said the governor.
Mahmoudi said the program had achieved “monumental success” in reducing the burden of the disease in the CNMI by nearly half.
“From its peak in 1998, when the case rate was 164 cases per 100,000, there has been a 48 percent reduction in tuberculosis morbidity,” he said.
Tuberculosis, according to Mahmoudi, continues to be a problem among non-resident workers.
In 2001, 79 percent of tuberculosis cases occurred in this group, he said.
“This trend has remained steady and unchanged,” Mahmoudi added.
The indigenous population also has a high case rate compared to that of the U.S., he said.
The 2001 rate among the local people was 69 cases per 100,000—which was 10 times higher than the U.S. rate.
Babauta, Mahmoudi, Health Secretary James Hofschneider and other government officials encouraged the public to learn more about tuberculosis, its prevention and its cure.
Yesterday was World Tuberculosis Day.
This year’s theme is “Tuberculosis Elimination: Now is the Time.”
Tuberculosis is a highly communicable disease that manifests itself in lesions of the lungs, bones and other parts of the body.
It is spread through the air from one person to another.
Symptoms include coughing that lasts longer than two weeks, pain in the chest, coughing up blood, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever and sweating at night.
