PHNOM PENH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has achieved remarkable results in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) over the past more than two decades, Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday.
In a message to mark World TB Day under the theme of "Yes! We can end TB!", Hun Manet said TB-related deaths declined by 77.5 percent to 18 per 100,000 people in 2024 from 80 in 2000.
He added that new TB cases fell by 68 percent to 272 per 100,000 people in 2024 from 853 in 2000.
Hun Manet said TB treatment is free-of-charge, with a high cure rate of over 90 percent.
"About two decades ago, Cambodia was among the countries with a high TB burden in the world, but now, Cambodia has become a model for the world in controlling the disease effectively," he said.
He added that despite this success, Cambodia still needs to accelerate its efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030.
TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Common symptoms include a persistent cough lasting two to three weeks, coughing up blood, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. ■
