By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded the highest incidents of pulmonary tuberculosis cases in India, according to a survey report released on Thursday. The National TB Prevalence Survey 2019-2021 mentioned that cases the lowest in Kerala.
The survey conducted after six decades and released to mark World TB Day by the Union Health Ministry also found that 64% of India’s TB symptomatic population was not able to seek healthcare services between 2019-2021.
The first of its kind nationwide study since 1955-58 conducted to know the actual disease burden at a national level found that the prevalence of TB among Indians aged above 15 is 312 cases per one lakh, more than double the global average of approximately 127.
It found that the prevalence of TB among the population aged 15 and above is 31.7%. It also showed that pulmonary TB prevalence in women is lower (154 per lakh) than men (472 per lakh). The survey said 64% of the symptomatic population did not seek healthcare between 2019-21. The reasons were ignoring symptoms (64%), not recognising symptoms (18%), self-treatment (12%) and couldn’t afford (2%).
