TB rampant despite progress

进入英语学习论坛下载音频 去听写专区一展身手 The prevalence of tuberculosis in China fell slightly during the past decade but the nation still has the world's second-largest population of people with the disease, according to the findings of a new survey. Currently, China has 5.23 million tuberculosis patients and an incidence rate of 459 cases per 100,000 people aged 15 and above on the mainland, according to the survey that was conducted in 2010. The nation has seen its rate of infectious cases of tuberculosis fall by 61 percent during the past 10 years, thanks largely to a government-initiated strategy featuring easy access to free testing and treatment, said Hao Yang, deputy director of the disease prevention and control bureau within the Ministry of Health. "We are working closely to expand nationwide pilot programs in limited regions to offer free treatment for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis patients," Hao said. Despite the availability of free treatment, only 18 percent of rural patients with tuberculosis symptoms have consulted a doctor, largely because of the cost, said Chen Yude, a leading technical consultant involved with the survey.