Penza, 22 October 2014. PenzaNews. Active tuberculosis morbidity rate in the Penza region has decreased by 18.4% since the beginning of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013.

According to Elena Sokolova, manager of the regional tuberculosis dispensary, only 404 adult illness cases were registered this year, in comparison to 495 cases in 2013.

She clarified that 13 children were diagnosed with tuberculosis, which is 7.1% lower than a year ago.

“Chest X-ray procedures helped locate tuberculosis in 279 patients,” Elena Sokolova added.

She noted that over 650,000 people were screened using chest X-ray, which remains one of the most effective ways to diagnose the earliest signs of the disease.

According to the press service of the regional Ministry of Health, the opening of a new patient treatment building for the tuberculosis dispensary played a great role in combating the dangerous disease by allowing difficult technology-demanding operations.