Reasons for Recent Occurrence of a Cluster of Tuberculosis Cases

61 Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Health whether the recent occurrence of a cluster of tuberculosis cases is of alarming concern and whether he can provide an update on the reason for such occurrence.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Tuberculosis (TB) is usually spread by prolonged close contact with infected persons. The recent cluster, where a few cases of the same TB strain were discovered among residents of a single housing block, was highly unusual, as the TB Control Unit has so far not been able to uncover where some of the residents concerned could have had close interactions.

As a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Health worked with grassroots leaders to conduct TB screening for past and current residents of the block. Two of the residents screened had signs of active TB, are undergoing treatment and are no longer infectious. Residents who had latent TB are not infectious, and the vast majority, nine in 10 of them, will not develop active TB in their lifetime. We have advised them on the TB symptoms to look out for, and to report to the TB Control Unit for medical review if they develop such symptoms.

Early detection and prompt treatment are essential to ensure effective control of TB infections.