85 percent of TB cases reported in morocco are successfully treated

About 85 percent of the 30,000 Tuberculosis cases reported annually in Morocco are successfully treated thanks to the anti-TB program set by Morocco since 1991, a senior World Health Organization expert said.

The "DOTS" strategy (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) adopted by Morocco has proven efficient and allowed the Kingdom to reach the WHO objectives, said Dr. Mario Raviglione of WHO's Communicable Disease Operational and Epidemiological Unit.

He said the early detection rate of TB cases also increased in Morocco to 75 percent thanks to the country's long-term Tb control program consisting of enhancing public awareness about prevention modes and reinforcement of hygiene.

According to the Moroccan health department, nearly 50 percent of the reported TB cases are pulmonary tuberculoses and 70 percent of the tb-patients are aged between 15 and 45, affecting hence the most productive section of the population.

About 9 million persons contract annually tuberculosis in the world and three millions die of the disease.