Dr. Hemantha Herath, director of the National Program for the Control of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, said that tuberculosis is spreading rapidly due to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in estate houses in Colombo Municipal Council area.
At present, most of the deaths from infectious diseases in this country are caused by tuberculosis.
According to Colombo Additional Coroner Iresha Samaraweera, about four people die of tuberculosis every week in Colombo Municipal Council areas. Also, about six thousand tuberculosis patients have been reported so far this year.
Expert Dr. Hemantha Herath also mentioned that there is a risk of death of between five hundred and six hundred people in Sri Lanka due to tuberculosis in an average year. Tuberculosis clinics are held in every major hospital in the island, and the health department has issued a notice to those who have symptoms to go to those clinics immediately and get treatment.
