Health Ministry: TB cases on the decline

The Ministry of Health says the number of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in TT has been steadily decreasing from 2018 to 2020.

Tuberculosis is a condition caused when bacteria infect the lungs. It can be spread from the infected person by droplets from coughing, sneezing and speaking. It is potentially fatal .

Last Tuesday, the body of Anthony Junior Blackman was found at his St Barb's Road, Laventille home.

An autopsy confirmed he died from TB.

Responding to Newsday's questions on the trend of TB infections in TT, officials from the ministry’s communications unit said based on figures there as a gradual decline over the past three years with 272 cases in 2018, 242 cases in 2019 and another 242 cases in 2020.

The ministry also confirmed that tracing was being done for Blackman's relatives and co-workers to determine whether they contracted the disease.

Asked how the Caura Hospital was managing treating both TB and covid19 patients since the beginning of the pandemic last year, officials said it was operating "excellently."

According to figures published by the World Health Organization in 2018, TT ranked 122 in the world for TB deaths.