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The death rate of tuberculosis went down to 0.5 percent in Cambodia this year, compared to 1.9 percent in 2005, medical official told Xinhua by phone here on Monday.

Meanwhile, the infection rate of the disease decreased to 18 percent in 2006 from 36 percent in 2005, said Mao Tan-Eng, director of the National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, while quoting a nationwide survey.

During the survey conducted by the kingdom’s over 1,000 health service centers, 94 died out of 17,700 infected people among 100, 000 samples in 2006, and 700 died out of 36,000 infected people among 100,000 samples in 2005.

“This year, the TB death and infection rates are reduced ( compared to last year), because we have provided better health services, popularized relevant information through media promotion and community education, and conducted more vaccination across the country,” said Tan-Eng.

The government’s new strategy is to educate people about TB in pagodas and at schools because monks, teachers and school children are believed to be able to spread the knowledge about TB efficiently to friends and other people among their communities, he added.

As to the TB victims, the director said that they usually didn’ t want to see doctor when they had preliminary symptoms, which therefore deprived them of the chances to survive.

The kingdom plans to eradicate TB in 2010, he added.

According to the World Health Organization’s report in 2006, Cambodia is the world’s 22nd burden in the field of TB spread.

Approximately two-thirds of the 13 million Cambodians carry TB bacterium, while some 13,000 die of it annually, the report said.

Source: Xinhua

The Cambodian government on Monday launched a Media Guide on HIV/AIDS, asking journalists to help enhance publicity and awareness of the epidemic in the country.

“Media plays significant role in the HIV/AIDS program and is also a key player in disseminating true information about HIV/AIDS and changing attitude of the community toward the most vulnerable victims,” Hong Sun Huot, president of the National AIDS Authority (NAA), said at the launching ceremony.

The 186-page Guide has 21 sections, including facts and data about HIV/AIDS in Cambodia and in the world; HIV/AIDS and the media; the impact on children and young people; exploring the role of men and older people in the epidemic; HIV testing and counseling; treatment and care as well as the targets of the next 10 years.

“We need to expand media coverage rather than to cause restrain to the effort,” he added.

A formal survey in 2003 indicated that Cambodia has 123,000 HIV carriers, which is equivalent to 1.9 percent of all adult aged between 15 and 49.

An Ministry of Health’s estimate shows an increase rate of transmission from husband to wife among new cases.

“The rising scale and pace of AIDS epidemic in the rural areas throughout the country sparks an increasing concern, particularly the spread of AIDS to housewives and its transmission to their children, which remains the most prevalent in Cambodia against the overall trend in Southeast Asia,” said Hong Sun Huot.

He called on national and international journalists to help enhance people’s awareness in order to protect their families, society and the whole nation from HIV epidemic.

Cambodia diagnosed the first case of HIV in 1993, and HIV prevalence once rose to as high as 3.7 percent of the adult population in 1997.

The country has made much effort in response to the epidemic. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan underlined in last June that “The world has witnessed successes of preventive and prophylaxis program such as in Brazil, Cambodia and Thailand.”

Source: Xinhua

Malaria is carried by mosquitoes

Britons travelling to exotic locations are being warned of the risks of contracting potentially fatal malaria by health experts. The number of travellers to malarial areas has soared by around 150% over the last decade.

But people are not taking anti-malaria tablets, putting themselves at risk, the Health Protection Agency said.

Last year, three people died after 26 travellers to The Gambia contracted the most serious type of the condition.

The HPA is warning that nine out of 10 Britons who contract malaria are carrying this form of the disease - plasmodium falciparum.

Latest figures show that of the 1,722 Britons with malaria in 2003, 1,339 had plasmodium falciparum - 78% of cases, up from 17% if cases in 1977.

That year saw 16 people die from malaria, up from nine the year before.

With the number of people being killed, it is so important to remember to take the treatment prescribed by the doctors HPA spokeswoman

The increasing trend of taking a break in a far-flung destination or heading of for a last-minute holiday is leading to people not thinking about malaria tablets, or forgetting to complete the whole course, the HPA said.

Travel to India has more than doubled over the last decade, and more holidaymakers are heading for destinations such as Cambodia, Thailand, the Middle East and Vietnam, according to the Association of British Travel Agents.

An HPA spokeswoman said: “It’s not so much complacency, it’s people thinking they won’t need malaria tablets for what they see as a normal holiday.

“The indication is that, the number of cases is decreasing but the fatality rate is increasing.

“The message would be that, with the number of people being killed, it is so important to remember to take the treatment prescribed by the doctors.”

She added: “A lot of people forget once they come back that they need to continue to go through the whole dose.

“In addition, people visiting friends and family who may originate from an area where malaria is present may wrongly think they are immune.”

Travellers visiting malarial areas are being advised to visit their doctor or travel clinic before they go abroad to get advice on the best anti-malarial measures.

Once abroad they should use insect repellent, keep arms feet and legs covered and sleep under mosquito netting if outside.

Early signs of malarial infection include fever, a flu-like illness, shaking, muscle ache and tiredness.