TUBERCULOSIS REPORT SEPTEMBER 2010 FOR ECUADOR - SEPTEMBER 21, 2010
At a recent conference of the National Evaluation Tuberculosis Control Program, Dr. Juan Proaño reported that in 2009 there were confirmed 5100 cases of tuberculosis in Ecuador. Health officials are not sure of the exact number of cases in Ecuador in part due to the lack of laboratories in rural areas. Also, symptoms of tuberculosis are often mistaken for being the flu. Furthermore, it is not known how many carriers of tuberculosis also have HIV. Fifty percent of the confirmed cases in Ecuador reside in the Guayas province. Currently medications for the treatment of tuberculosis are only available through the Ministry of Health.
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IAMAT recommends persons on working assignments in the health care field (dentists, physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians), long-term travelers and those who have close and prolonged contact with the local population (teachers, missionaries, Peace Corps volunteers) are at risk. Travelers at risk should have a pre-departure TB skin test and be re-tested after leaving the country. (Source - IAMAT website)
http://www.ecuadortraveladvisory.com
