School cleared of TB
THERE is no outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in Perak, assured Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
However, the public must continue to take precautions by maintaining personal hygiene, he added.
"The public has no need to panic as results of tests conducted on 34 teachers and students who were in contact with the 17-year-old TB patient from SMK Jalan Tasek showed that 18 of them had no abnormality in their medical reports.
Keeping it safe: Some SMK Jalan Tasek students have taken safety precautions by wearing masks to school to avoid contracting TB.
"The remaining 16 will be tested soon and the department will continue to monitor their health for 24 months to ensure that they are cleared of the disease," he said, adding that none of the suspected cases showed symptoms of TB and that the tests were a precautionary step.
The Star reported on Wednesday that a SMK Jalan Tasek student was diagnosed with TB after undergoing a medical check-up at Pantai Hospital Ipoh on Sept 3.
This led the State Health Department to conduct tests on 207 teachers and students from the same school who had come into contact with the student.
Of the 207 who underwent the mantoux skin test, 34 had tested positive and had to undergo additional tests to confirm the results.
However, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had said that the mantoux test was not accurate for students with the BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccination.
On the go: Dr Mah visiting the school on Wednesday to check on the precautionary measures taken for tuberculosis.
Dr Mah also said the incident at SMK Jalan Tasek gave the state government an opportunity to disseminate information and to educate the public about the disease.
"Unlike many chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart conditions, TB can be cured after getting the necessary treatment.
"As long as the patients continue to take their medication for the full six months course, there will be minimal side effects and they can lead normal lives," Dr Mah said, adding that another talk on the disease and other health concerns would be held again at the school on Saturday.
He also advised the public to remain vigilant and to seek medical check-up if they showed symptoms of TB, which spreads through transmission of droplets from infected people.
"Signs to look out for are persistent coughing for over two weeks, loss of appetite and weight, and having fever.
"Still, the chances of contracting TB is very low and can be avoided by maintaining personal hygiene such as washing hands before meals and by leading an active lifestyle," he said.
According to the 2012 Health Fact found on the Ministry of Health's website, the incidence rate of people with TB in 2011 was at 71.35 per 100,000 population.
It also stated that the mortality rate in 2011 was at 5.68 per 100,000 population.
-The Star-
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