Brazil hails success of TB early diagnosis awareness campaign
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Brazil is expecting an increase in tuberculosis screening, after the health ministry described as highly successful an awareness campaign conducted throughout July. The public information hotline Disque Saúde recorded a 72% monthly jump in telephone enquiries during the campaign, which sought primarily to highlight the importance of diagnosing and treating the disease at the earliest possible stage. Brazil is estimated to have more than 60 million cases of TB infection; some 5,000 people die every year from the disease. In 2005, almost 81,000 new cases were recorded.