Anti-TB team: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow officiates at a ceremony marking World Tuberculosis Day.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says there should be no let-up in the community's fight against tuberculosis, adding the disease is still a public health challenge in Hong Kong.

Speaking at a ceremony marking World TB Day today, Dr Chow said there are about 6,000 notified cases a year in Hong Kong, with a rate of about 90 cases per 100,000 people.

Asia has a high incidence of the disease, so sustained efforts should be made against it and adjusted in accordance with the latest developments.

Strategy strengthened

The Government will fine-tune and strengthen its strategy and mechanism in controlling the disease, and will maintain close collaboration with the World Health Organisation and other local and international bodies.

Acting Director of Health Dr PY Leung said long-term strategic measures are necessary to control tuberculosis.

"The major measures adopted by the department include the Directly Observed Treatment for tuberculosis patients, contact tracing and detection of tuberculosis cases," Dr Leung said.

"To further control the spread of TB, the department has also provided medicines to the appropriate patients' family members who were infected to minimise the chance of development of the disease."