Internet cafes in China are becoming the main places where young people contract mycobacterium tuberculosis, warn doctors in Shanghai on Thursday’s global anti-tuberculosis day.
The increase in tuberculosis infections in internet cafes among younger Chinese people is caused by poor ventilation of rooms and low immunity of the organism, often after using a computer for several hours. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among people suffering from infectious diseases in China, according to data from the Municipal Health Office, quoted by the Shanghai Daily newspaper.
The use of computers in internet cafes is very popular in a country where the number of internet users is over 420 million and is the largest in the world.
Last year, 139 people died of infectious diseases in Shanghai, including 44 from tuberculosis. In total, there were 2010 cases of tuberculosis registered in the city in 3760, including almost 2 cases. new cases recorded last year. In addition, 3121 migrant workers suffering from tuberculosis were registered there last year, including 1575 in the tuberculosis phase.
Experts call for special attention to minors infected with this disease, because they usually lead an unhealthy lifestyle and do not eat properly – the journal says.
China is the second country after India with the highest number of people suffering from tuberculosis. According to WHO data, 1,3 million new cases of tuberculosis appear in China every year. In 2009, a total of 9,4 million cases of tuberculosis and over 1,7 million deaths caused by this disease were registered.
Experts note a particularly severe form of the disease – multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). It is much more difficult to heal, which is more expensive, and accounts for 6,8 percent. all tuberculosis cases in China.
Even though we have a significant decline compared to 2000, when the figure was 10,7%, it is still above the world average of 5,3%. Notes Wang Lixia, director of the tuberculosis department of the China Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Two million deaths from tuberculosis have been prevented over the past 10 years thanks to preventive programs, according to the Hong Kong daily South China Morning Post. Still, 3 people in China die from this disease every year, according to the Chinese Ministry of Health. people. The WHO estimates, on the other hand, say about a quarter of a million deaths annually.
In the Middle Kingdom, treatment of tuberculosis is free of charge in specialized hospitals.
From Beijing, Janek Żdżarski (PAP)