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Brazil, Haiti and Peru concentrated tuberculosis cases in Latin America
According to WHO report, these countries totaling 50% of TB cases. Hygiene, ventilation and how to build houses influence disease transmission.
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Brazil, Haiti and Peru accounts for 50% of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in Latin America, according to "Global Tuberculosis Control 2011" of the World Health Organization (WHO) and further indicates that the region has improved as a whole. "Compared to other world regions, Latin America is a little better, but does not mean the battle is won," he said in remarks to Efe Dr. Rafael Lopez Olarte, tuberculosis program of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO regional office. Lopez said that in Brazil, Peru and Haiti is concentrated about 50% of all TB cases in the Americas. However, in all countries of the region there tuberculosis. This disease, transmitted by bacteria that affects the respiratory tract and spreads through the air, mainly affects developing countries and has a different impact on each country. Latin America "is one of the regions with higher socio-economic differences, there is greater inequality, and that makes for that very reason, there are large pockets of poverty where TB is very present, "said Lopez. The doctor said that for this reason "in national statistics may not see as a problem (TB) "but said that action is needed in places like the marginal areas of cities where" for different reasons TB is concentrated. " hygiene, ventilation, how to build the housing are factors that influence the transmission of the disease, so that both PAHO and its partners are working "to meet this challenge is the persistence and increase of tuberculosis associated with poverty." The report indicates that both the overall incidence of disease and mortality rates have declined in this period in the world, with major improvements in Kenya, Tanzania, Brazil and China, which Lopez linked to the development of strategies in these countries. The increase in funding devoted to disease control The increased risk of tuberculosis among patients with the AIDS virus (HIV), the growing fear that TB is a disease becomes resistant to drugs, among other factors, have caused "to be given more careful and more resources, "he said. In Latin America, Lopez said to El Salvador as an example for the region, the country's effort to implement a strategy with international quality standards to address the disease. Another country is Brazil has advanced where, despite being one of the most affected in the region has been highlighted in the report because it has been a decline in "significant and sustained" since 1990, thanks, according to Lopez, who has plans in place soon and results have been "very positive". The PAHO representative pointed out that this disease is not only biological, but also involves a social and cultural factor, so it is important to raise awareness. Indeed, the extensive campaigns were made against the H1N1 flu epidemic, which was recommended to cover when coughing, hand washing and other hygiene measures, "have helped to combat the spread of infectious diseases." The expert pointed out the need for governments continue to fund national TB programs, because "it is what has been seen that helps tremendously," he said, noting that this leads to there political commitment to develop campaigns supervision, drug supply control, laboratories and joint strategies with partners.