Health Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre said tuberculosis is on the increase in Dominica. He said there have been six suspected cases and 12 confirmed cases this year alone, with many of those infected ranging from 33 to 92 years of age. According to McIntyre, all of the suspected and confirmed cases have been admitted to the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital in Roseau.
The health minister further disclosed that 11 of the 18 reported cases are from Roseau, and that no deaths have been recorded so far. He further stated that all the patients are being treated free of charge, and that the government has enough TB drugs to treat all cases. According to him, “there are no cases of drug-resistant TB at this time which makes it much easier for patients to be treated and a better recovery as well.”
In order to arrest the spread of the disease, the government has embarked on a screening programme aimed at identifying people with whom the TB patients had been in contact so as to screen them as well for signs of infection. McIntyre said 87 people have been traced and screened in the community so far because they were in contact with infected TB patients – four of these were Haitian nationals.
Last year, there were two suspected TB cases and eight confirmed cases.
In a related development, diasporans from Salisbury have contributed essential medical equipment to the district health centre. The donations included a baby scale, an electronic Doppler, and several medical essentials. The group was led by Darren Louis, who noted that the instruments used by the medical team at the health centre were old and antiquated.
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