Ballari: While Covid-19 has taken center stage, the cases of tuberculosis have increased. At 9%, iron-rich districts Ballari And Vijayanagara has the highest tuberculosis (TB) mortality rate in the state, and both districts also feature in the top-10 nationwide, data from the TB Control Board under the Union health ministry.
The mortality rate in both the districts is well above the country average of 5% and the state average of 6% and has increased five-fold in the last nine months. In contrast, the Covid-19 mortality rate is just 1.7%.
In the past nine months – January to September – there have been 3,407 TB reports and 247 (7.2%) deaths in both the districts. 1,170 patients have been cured, while 1,966 patients are still undergoing treatment. District health officials are uncertain about the whereabouts of the remaining 24.
Officials say people with symptoms are refusing to come forward and get treatment for fear of being mistaken for Covid-19. The central government had set a target of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, but now it seems ambitious given the low detection and fear of COVID-19. Sources said that recently a Joint Assistant Supervision (JSS) team comprising seven members from the Center and the state visited the districts to review the situation. The team has asked the district to take steps to curb the death rate.
An official of the district TB control office said, “Ballari taluk has reported 93 TB deaths, which is the highest.” “The death rate is five times that of Covid-19. TB patients who have co-morbidities such as HIV, diabetes, cancer and heart disease have a higher risk of dying.”
District Health Officer Dr LH Janardhan said that one of the reasons for the increase in TB cases is the fear of Kovid-19. People are not ready to come forward and get tested and treated. “Many people come to the last stage which is increasing the mortality rate,” he said.
The mortality rate in both the districts is well above the country average of 5% and the state average of 6% and has increased five-fold in the last nine months. In contrast, the Covid-19 mortality rate is just 1.7%.
In the past nine months – January to September – there have been 3,407 TB reports and 247 (7.2%) deaths in both the districts. 1,170 patients have been cured, while 1,966 patients are still undergoing treatment. District health officials are uncertain about the whereabouts of the remaining 24.
Officials say people with symptoms are refusing to come forward and get treatment for fear of being mistaken for Covid-19. The central government had set a target of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, but now it seems ambitious given the low detection and fear of COVID-19. Sources said that recently a Joint Assistant Supervision (JSS) team comprising seven members from the Center and the state visited the districts to review the situation. The team has asked the district to take steps to curb the death rate.
An official of the district TB control office said, “Ballari taluk has reported 93 TB deaths, which is the highest.” “The death rate is five times that of Covid-19. TB patients who have co-morbidities such as HIV, diabetes, cancer and heart disease have a higher risk of dying.”
District Health Officer Dr LH Janardhan said that one of the reasons for the increase in TB cases is the fear of Kovid-19. People are not ready to come forward and get tested and treated. “Many people come to the last stage which is increasing the mortality rate,” he said.
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