The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has identified Lagos State as the epicentre of Tuberculosis in the country, adding that more than 300,000 cases are left undiagnosed nationwide every year.
Speaking during a virtual interview with journalists on Tuesday, the director, technical programmes, USAID Tuberculosis Local Organisations Network (TB LON 3) project, Olugbenga Daniel, said the undetected cases pose significant threat to the fight against TB in the country.
He said a positive index TB patient infects 15 people annually.
About TB in Nigeria
Tuberculosis, a disease caused by bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis) often affects the lungs.
It is spread from person to person through the air. When people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.
According to statistics, Nigeria remains one of the 30 countries globally with the highest burden of the disease, while it also ranks first in Africa in the number of undetected cases.
Out of the 590,000 cases, around 140,000 are said to be HIV-positive.
According to Mr Daniel, Lagos State is the epicentre of the disease in Nigeria due to its population density, landscape and other factors.