DRC: Rise in TB cases linked to co-infection with HIV

A group of HIV-positive Congolese.

Photo: Jane Some/IRIN

KINSHASA, 25 March 2008 (PlusNews) - Efforts to combat the spread of tuberculosis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been slowed down by the problem of TB patients also infected with HIV, local health officials said.

"The disease [TB] is on the increase because there is a link with HIV - there are co-infected patients. These are the patients who have caused the number of TB cases to be on the rise," said Guylaine Tshitenge, an activist of the NGO National anti-Tuberculosis League in Congo, during a march organised in Kinshasa on 24 March to mark the World Day to Combat Tuberculosis.

Minister of Health Makwenge Kaput said close to 100,000 cases of TB were recorded in DRC in 2006, ranking the country 11th of the 22 states most affected by tuberculosis in the world, and 4th in Africa.

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