Ballari: The health department's recent 15-day 'active case-finding' mission to diagnose people with tuberculosis has found the highest number of fresh cases in Ballari district.
Of the 51.30 lakh people screened for tuberculosis in 31 districts across the state over a period of 15 days, about 2000 were found to be suffering from the disease As many as 331 fresh cases of TB were detected in Ballari in addition to the 961 people undergoing treatment at its government hospitals and 56 in private hospitals. The team came across 216 fresh cases in Koppal , 200 in Vijayapura district, but only three in Kodagu.
While the 15-day exercise came to an end in July, mop-up of areas and investigation into pending cases will continue over the next few days, according to health officials.
Those diagnosed with TB will be registered with the Union government's NIKSHAY registry that will track them from the time of diagnosis to treatment outcome and monitor them for six months.
"This is worrying as these are confirmed cases. We went to people's doorsteps and screened those showing symptoms", said a senior official. According to an analysis of quarterly statistics of TB cases reported at government hospitals, each district in Karnataka reports 20 to 25 TB cases every week.
A health department officer said early detection and treatment of TB could prevent spread of the disease. Direct Observation Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) centres had been opened in government and private hospitals and also by NGOs.
"People with a cough persisting for over three weeks, chest pain and weight loss must have a medical check-up at the DOTS centre," he added.
