Minister says T.B. cases under control

Molwyn Joseph, the health minister has given assurances that health officials are in control and monitoring the two patients at the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre with tuberculosis.
Speaking on OBSERVER Radio’s Connecting with Dave, Joseph said yesterday that because of air travel, people often come into close contact with patients affected by highly contagious diseases.
“In 24-hours you can get someone coming from Australia to here and that person might not be well just like any other part of the world. A visitor from the United Kingdom came here with fever and we have to be prepared for these things and we are prepared,” Joseph said.
Two toddler boys – aged 18 months and four-years-old are now hospitalised at the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre with T.B.
The younger child arrived recently from the United States with the highly contagious disease, while the older may have come into contact with someone who travelled to Antigua with the bacteria.  
In stating that the country is equipped to adequately handle tuberculosis cases Joseph said, “We work very closely with the Pan American Health Organisation, one of the most credible organisations in the history in this world. We have an excellent relationship with [PAHO],” he added.