World Tuberculosis Day is marked today.
Tuberculosis is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.
The bacteria that causes tuberculosis spreads from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.
Sri Lanka recorded 7,258 tuberculosis cases in 2020 and 6,771 in 2021.
The figure is less than the World Health Organisation’s projected value of 14,000.
According to statistics, Sri Lanka has more than 6,000 unidentified tuberculosis patients annually.
A programme is also underway to eradicate tuberculosis from Sri Lanka.
