The increase in the incidence of tuberculosis: Mykolaiv authorities want to purchase a mobile fluorograph

Illustrative photo

Due to the increase in the number of tuberculosis cases in Mykolaiv, the city health department plans to purchase a mobile fluorograph for one of the inpatient facilities by the end of the year.

The head of city health, Iryna Shamrai, said this in a comment to NikVesti.

The mobile fluorograph will be used to examine the population, in particular, remote areas of the city such as Korenykha, Zaichevske, Velyka Korenykha, Matviivka, Ternivka, as well as the Vitovskyi district. One mobile fluorograph is enough to service them, says Iryna Shamrai.

«We would like to purchase a mobile fluorograph for one of our inpatient facilities, which will enable us to examine patients in remote corners of the community. We wrote to donors about the possibility of purchasing such a fluorograph for us, but they do not produce such a device abroad at all. We are looking for quotes for this equipment. It was not very popular before the war, but today it is of great importance. The urgent need for a mobile fluorograph arose due to the increasing incidence of tuberculosis. Last year, 7 children got sick, and when they get sick, it is a prognostically unpleasant sign that the epidemic is spreading, unfortunately,» said Iryna Shamrai.

According to official statistical data, the Mykolaiv region is in 6th place among the regions in terms of the incidence of tuberculosis. This factor indicates the need to anticipate future risks and conduct more population surveys to prevent the development of an epidemic.

«The incidence of tuberculosis always increases during war due to negative living conditions. We must take steps in advance, if everyone here walks around with tuberculosis, then it will be too late to buy something and detect it. When the war is over, we need to be examined, especially since we have a full supply of medicine, she summed up».

Earlier, Iryna Tkachenko, head of the health care department of Mykolaiv Oblast, reported that the number of cases of active tuberculosis in Mykolaiv Oblast as of 2024 is 710. In addition, in 2019, the Mykolaiv region ranked first in the incidence and prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

What should a person know about tuberculosis?

This is an infectious disease, the causative agent of which is mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is also called Koch's bacillus.

The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, usually through coughing, sneezing or sharing household items with a sick person.

Although TB can affect anyone, the most vulnerable groups are people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, or those who live or work in a high-risk area (such as in unsanitary conditions or in an area with high patients with tuberculosis).

In 90% of people, the disease affects the lungs. Less often, the disease can also damage other organs: kidneys, spine, brain, lymph nodes, intestines, skin, genitals, etc. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is not contagious and is life-threatening only to those people who are infected.

There are 2 conditions associated with tuberculosis: latent tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis disease. A person with latent TB infection usually has no symptoms, feels well, and cannot pass the TB bacteria to others. X-ray of the lungs in the latent form does not show any changes, and the sputum smear is negative. However, a tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test) or a blood test for gamma interferon will show the presence of TB infection.