TB Rate rising in S'pore, FTs are to blame, ICA no health check required?

[Papsmearer]

Rising TB incidence rates due to increasing population, delayed diagnosis
By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 10 October 2010 1546 hrs


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Tuberculosis Control Unit




SINGAPORE: The incidence rate of tuberculosis (TB) in Singapore has been rising since 2008.

The Health Ministry said the figure last year was 38.6 per 100,000 residents which translated to 1,442 new cases.

Of these 1,442 cases in 2009, 837 -- or 58 per cent -- of the patients were 50 years old and above. 1,040, or 72.1 per cent, were men.

Experts said the rise was due to several reasons, including delayed diagnosis, a rising population and an increased prevalence of diabetes.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital's TB Control Unit senior consultant Cynthia Chee Bin Eng said: "There's a general sense of complacency in our community and many people think that this disease is a thing of the past and it has been conquered here, but that's not so.

"We must remain vigilant and it's important to diagnose TB early to prevent its spread in the community".

Dr Chee advised anyone with symptoms such as prolonged cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

World Health Organisation figures for 2008 estimate that 1.3 million people died from TB, with Southeast Asia having the most number of deaths.

Migrant workers and foreigners coming to Singapore from countries with high incidence of TB could also be a factor in the hike in cases here.[/COLOR]

Figures also showed the elderly made up a significant proportion of new cases in 2009.

"Many of them may have acquired the infection in their youth when the incidence of TB was much higher and they could have carried the germ in their body as latent infection all these years," Dr Chee said.

"These germs could just activate in their old age when their immune system is depressed."

To successfully control this disease and curb community transmission, it is important to ensure that all cases are diagnosed early.

Dr Chee added patients must conscientiously undergo treatment which takes about nine months.

Under the Infectious Diseases Act, TB patients who persistently default treatment may be detained at the Communicable Diseases Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital till they are cured.


Dr. Chee is right on, and also at the same time stupid. Early diagnosis and treatment is great, but really for lots of people, money is tight. When health care was free, than no problem. But when coughing a lot, they just buy cough syrup. He should know this. I think its very telling that here, a Dr. openly admits that FTs caused this. The rising population is all attributed to FTs, as the locals have a zero growth rate, coupled with the fact that he said that FTs come from countries with high TB rate. I want to ask ICA what the fuck are they doing? Do they let in anyone into the country without a health check as long as they pay the fee? Is a chest xray too much to ask? What is Minister Cow doing about this? I don't understand. Does this mean that when a FT is detected with TB, he is put into the communicable diseases centre and treated for free? We let them in to steal a local job and we treat them for free too? This comes as a great shock to me, as I thought TB was all but irradicated in S'pore.

 

[hochiminhcity]

FT are our imported RESIDENT EVIL,They are everywhere, on the bus and train.how to avoid all this pest

 

[Papsmearer]

FT are our imported RESIDENT EVIL,They are everywhere, on the bus and train.how to avoid all this pest

If u see one coughing, its probably TB. Just point your finger at it and scream TB. U wll see how far they run.

 

[myfoot123]

How can it not be increased, our MRT so packed. One cough from FT, the whole train passengers get it. SMRT should be responsible for passenger medication treatment for causing Singapore to have mass TB case.

 

[Watchman]

FARK the ministry for suppressing our wages and
let in a torrent of Indian workers who all have TB !

 

[Papsmearer]

How can it not be increased, our MRT so packed. One cough from FT, the whole train passengers get it. SMRT should be responsible for passenger medication treatment for causing Singapore to have mass TB case.

I think TB is only the tip of the iceberg. U will see rising cases of hepatitis,VD and other communicable disease these FTs brings. We already see Hand Foot and Mouth disease with is prevalent in the agriculture type countries. Needless to say, we don't have a lot of ranches or farms. so it must have come from FTs.

 

[Ramseth]

Dr Chee added patients must conscientiously undergo treatment which takes about nine months.

Under the Infectious Diseases Act, TB patients who persistently default treatment may be detained at the Communicable Diseases Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital till they are cured.

If no money to pay for treatment, how?

 

[Kid278]

If no money to pay for treatment, how?

They have the ISA and now they have the IDA. They'll detain you until you're cured and should you default on paying the bill, they'll sue you till you're bankrupt.

 

[Ramseth]

They have the ISA and now they have the IDA. They'll detain you until you're cured and should you default on paying the bill, they'll sue you till you're bankrupt.

But in such case, the patient didn't ask for treatment. They enforce treatment, they should pay, not the patient. As for the communicability of the disease, they can quarantine the patient till recovery or death, that's fair enough for public good, but not enforce expensive treatment that the patient didn't want and couldn't afford.

 

[Kid278]

But in such case, the patient didn't ask for treatment. They enforce treatment, they should pay, not the patient. As for the communicability of the disease, they can quarantine the patient till recovery or death, that's fair enough for public good, but not enforce expensive treatment that the patient didn't want and couldn't afford.

When you see the word "Act" it's ruthless, no compassion, no mercy. They're against welfarism, you seek welfare they'll go after your family members.