PUTRAJAYA: The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases increased by 0.1% in 2024, with 26,183 cases reported compared with 26,149 in the previous year, says the Health Ministry.
However, the ministry said the TB death rate showed a decline, dropping to 7.6 per 100,000 population in 2024 from 7.9 in 2023, with total deaths decreasing by 1.6% to 2,580 from 2,623.
The ministry said the decline reflected the ongoing impact of public health interventions despite significant challenges in fully eliminating TB.
“It is important to emphasise that TB is not caused by ‘santau’ (delivering a curse and poison by black magic), human intervention or a hereditary disease.
“It is an infectious disease that can be completely cured with consistent treatment as recommended by medical practitioners,” it said in a statement in conjunction with World TB Day yesterday, Bernama reported.
The ministry added it remains committed to strengthening the country’s TB control service system through various approaches, including the use of the latest diagnostic technology that is faster, more accurate and user-friendly.
It said another measure is strengthening patient monitoring systems to ensure treatment compliance while enhancing the capacity of health workers in effective TB management.
