1,380 Singaporeans diagnosed with active TB in last 5 years
SINGAPORE: Over the last five years, 1,380 Singapore residents were diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) and majority of them are adults.
Active TB is a disease state where the patient is symptomatic and the disease can spread to others.
About 100 students were diagnosed with TB each year during the last five years, with more than 75 per cent aged 17 years or older.
Currently, about 1,000 people are being treated for TB.
Minister of State for Health Dr Amy Khor said her ministry will continue to monitor the effectiveness of Singapore's national TB control programme.
She said among non-residents, the average number was about 450 per year.
Short-term visitors were excluded as many of them were workers who underwent medical screening before being granted a work permit.
Dr Khor said: "If they are found to have active TB, they will be rejected and sent home. When the foreign domestic worker re-applies for work permit, he will be screened again. The screening is done every time they apply for a work permit. The reason being we feel that active TB can present themselves in between screenings."
Channel NewsAsia
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