Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said apart from that, the total number of TB deaths also registered an increase, up 15% from 1,696 in 2015 to 1,945 fatalities last year.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) in its End TB Strategy intends to make the world TB-free by 2035 in which the incidence of TB will be reduced by 90% and its mortality rate by 95%.
“For our country, various efforts will be carried out to ensure Malaysia achieves the target set by WHO,” he said in a speech to commemorate 2017 World TB Day in Taman Desa Rhu here yesterday.
The text of his speech was read by his deputy Dr Hilmi Yahya.