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Liberia: Tuberculosis on the rise
The number of Liberians suffering from tuberculosis rose dramatically in 2008, according to government statistics, and health officials say more needs to be done to educate people about preventing the debilitating disease.
MONROVIA, 4 February 2009 (IRIN) - In the second half of 2008 5,000 TB cases were recorded, compared to 3,000 in all of 2007, according to the National Office on Tuberculosis and Leprosy.
Ernest Choplopy, deputy manager of monitoring at the national office, said staff are still conducting research and the final figures for 2008 could be higher.
Dedeh Barr Kesselly, the office's deputy programme manager, told IRIN: “With these latest figures we can see a big problem exists in our society. TB is a big burden…because when someone contracts the disease it creates a large gap not only in our families, but also in our workforce, and in our economy.”
Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease that can be treated with antibiotics, but if not treated properly it can be fatal.
Each year nine million people around the world fall ill with the disease, according to the Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatititis, STD and TB Prevention.
Read the full article here http://www.IRINnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82747
