TB fight: Director of Health Dr PY Lam (left) and Under Secretary for Food & Health Professor Gabriel Leung (second left) open World TB Day.

People should be cautious about tuberculosis which remains a top infectious disease around the world, with nearly 200 Hong Kong people succumbing to it last year.

This was the message from Under Secretary for Food & Health Professor Gabriel Leung who opened World TB Day in Hong Kong today, saying there are 6,000 new cases in the city annually. The World Health Organisation estimates there are more than nine million new cases a year, claiming 1.8 million lives worldwide.

Prof Leung said with the concerted efforts of the Government and the public, prevention and control measures against tuberculosis have been effective, as shown in the continual drop of TB cases since its peak 60 years ago. Hong Kong is classified by the WHO as a place with an "intermediate TB burden with good health infrastructure".

Meanwhile, Director of Health Dr PY Lam urged people to build good body resistance to illness through adequate rest, exercise, fresh air and a balanced diet.

Call the Department of Health's TB hotline 2572 6024 for more information, or visit this website.