Sri Lanka, March 19 -- The National Programme for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Diseases (NPTCCD) has reported that Sri Lanka records between 8,500 and 9,500 tuberculosis (TB) cases each year.

Speaking at a press briefing organized by the Health Promotion Bureau, ahead of World Tuberculosis Day which falls on March 24, public health specialist Dr. Mizaya Cader highlighted that nearly 45% of TB cases in the country are reported from the Western Province.

''Globally, one in four people have been infected with tuberculosis. In Sri Lanka, we identify between 8,500 and 9,500 TB patients annually. Over the past 25 years, this number has remained largely unchanged. Next year, we expect a slight reduction of around 500 cases,'' she said.

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