"“Any government hospital or private clinic that treats a patient for TB must inform the Regional Health Department immediately so that we can treat them effectively,” Dr Than Tun Aung, deputy director general of the Ayeyarwady Regional Health Department, said. The department launched a programme last month to treat the disease under its Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus Standard Operational Procedures. The department is conducting TB and diabetes screening to determine the extent of the disease in the region. People who have been exposed to TB patients are provided medication for three months as a preventive measure. Those discovered to have full blown TB have to take medicine for six months, and those suffering from multi-drug-resistant TB must take medicine for 20 months, the department said. “To reduce new infections, the cooperation of government offices, civic groups, and the public is very important,” Dr Than Tun Aung said. The department estimated there were about 300 TB cases for every 100,000 people..."