From October 14, under the Intensive TB Patient Search Campaign, almost 212 health department teams will on a door-to-door visit in search of TB patients.

District TB officer Dr G K Mishra, said that the teams would examine health of almost 5.66 lakh people and will try to identify TB patients among them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fixed a target to eradicate TB from India by 2025. Hence, the TB department would launch a campaign from October 14 to 23, 2019.

About 212 teams would visit the houses of their assigned localities and examine the health of 5.66 lakh residents. The teams would identify patients and sent their sputum for laboratory examination to health centers. The centers would then start treatment immediately as soon as they are identified as TB patients.

Dr Mishra, while addressing reporters, said the campaign was in the second leg in current financial year in which 10% residents out of 50 lakh population would be examined. 10 most susceptible localities had been identified and distributed in 10 planning units.

Each team consisting of three persons, would visit 50 to 60 houses and collect sputum of possible TB patients. 44 supervisors and 31 sector health officers would be participating in this campaign. If laboratory examination revealed a patient, then medical supervisor would start his treatment.

Dr Mishra also said that one TB patient can infect at least 10 to 15 persons. Hence, his treatment should be started immediately after identification.