Sri Lanka faces 5,000 undiagnosed TB cases: Health officials

By Poojathmi Rivithma

Colombo, March 18 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka continues to battle a significant number of undiagnosed tuberculosis (TB) cases, with around 5,000 patients yet to be identified, health officials warned today.

Dr. Pramitha Shanthilatha, Director of the National Program for Tuberculosis Control and Communicable Diseases, highlighted the issue during a seminar at the Health Promotion Bureau today (18). She said that 8,726 TB cases were officially reported in the country last year, with men accounting for 5,622 of these cases.

Pulmonary TB remains the most common form of the disease, Dr. Shanthilatha said, and about 57% of patients with this type have the potential to transmit the infection to others. The highest number of cases were reported from Colombo District, underscoring the need for vigilant screening in urban areas.

“Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among infectious diseases in Sri Lanka,” she said, urging the public to seek medical attention at respiratory clinics if symptoms such as a persistent cough for more than two weeks, unexplained weight loss, low-grade fever, or loss of appetite occur.

Dr. Shanthilatha’s warning comes as authorities step up efforts to identify and treat hidden TB cases before they contribute to wider community transmission.