Tuberculosis in Hong Kong falls to lowest level in 70 years, but health officials urge vigilance
Authorities seek to raise awareness of contagious, airborne disease noting risk factors such as high mobility of neighbouring populations and ageing society
Tuberculosis in Hong Kong has dropped to its lowest level since 1947, with 40 fewer cases reported last year than the year before, but the health authority urged the public to stay vigilant due to the city’s risk factors and ageing population.
On Saturday, World Tuberculosis Day, the Hospital Authority and Tuberculosis Chest and Heart Diseases Association jointly sought to raise awareness of the contagious and airborne disease, which killed 1.7 million people worldwide in 2016 according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Between 2000 and 2016, tuberculosis was one of the top 10 causes of death globally despite the mortality rate falling by 37 per cent during that period, according to the WHO.
Girl infected with drug-resistant tuberculosis held in quarantine at Hong Kong hospital
Statistics from the Health Department showed that in 2017 the number of reported cases dropped for the fifth consecutive year, to 4,306, and the report rate per 100,000 people declined to 58.3, the lowest over the past 70 years for both.
In total, 162 people died of tuberculosis in Hong Kong last year – two more than in 2016.
Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr Chui Tak-yi said the report rate had seen “a sharp 90 per cent reduction” as compared with the 1950s and 1960s, but was still higher than rates in some parts of Europe and the Americas.
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The incidence rate per 100,000 people was 27 in the Americas and 32 in Europe in 2016, according to the WHO.
Among the city’s 4,306 cases in 2017, 117 involved Chinese immigrants in the city – the highest number for that group since 2004.
Eight cases of tuberculosis confirmed at Hong Kong secondary school
Wong reminded the public that tuberculosis treatment entailed multiple medicines that must be taken for at least six months. He said strict compliance was required for successful treatment.
