Over 3,000 prison inmates found to have TB
In an examination of inmates at 143 prisons nationwide, carried out jointly by the Disease Control Department and the Corrections Department this year, 3,368 inmates were found to have contracted tuberculosis (TB).
Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said the examination was conducted under a campaign to eliminate TB between 2017-2021 in high-risk groups including prison inmates, elderly people with chronic diseases, and HIV patients.
In 2017, the campaign has been carried out at 143 prisons throughout the country with a total of 282,816 prisoners.
In the examination, 24,436 inmates were suspected to have contracted TB. Of these, 3,368 were confirmed to have contracted the infectious disease that affects the lungs and other body parts.
The finding has enabled officials to quickly provide treatment for those having contracted the disease to prevent it from spreading.
Dr Jedsada said inmates found with symptoms related to TB were given an x-ray scan. Those confirmed to have contracted TB were provided with medicine, quarantined and provided with treatment.
A search for inmates sick of TB will continued to be carried out at least once a year, he said.
Over 3,000 prison inmates found to have TB - Thai PBS English News
