Tuberculosis cases in Hong Kong dropped to a record low of 4,498 last year from 4,705 in 2014, according to provisional figures.
Officiating at the World TB Day 2016 opening ceremony today, Under Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan said the overall TB notification rate has dropped by more than half since the 1980s, from 150 to 60 cases per 100,000 people.
She said it is significant result thanks to co-operation between patients and medical personnel.
Despite the drop in cases, she urged the public to continue its anti-TB efforts, saying: "All our strategic partners are indispensable and their support is an essential element in the fight against TB."
She said the Centre for Health Protection’s chest clinics provide free TB examinations and treatment, and its TB Laboratory has been designated a World Health Organisation supranational TB reference lab.
The Hospital Authority provides inpatient services, isolation and treatment or special examination to TB patients, while a number of non-governmental organisations also contribute, such as the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest & Heart Diseases Association.
Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Leung Ting-hung said Hong Kong faces problems in TB control such as overcrowding and busy population movement with neighbouring areas.
He called on people to continue their vigilance against TB and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Further information on TB is available on the webpages of the Centre for Health Protection, the Tuberculosis & Chest Service and the WHO.
