I was in Ikebukuro station today and was taken aback to see a public health poster warning against TB. I got home, turned on the news and there was a report that 30 students and 5 staff members at a school in western Tokyo have developed TB. Last year, to the alarm of public health officials, the TB infection rate increased for the first time in 42 years. The TB infection rate here is more than 3x the US and Western Europe (and actually thought to be much higher since there is apparently nostandarised national reporting system). The infection rate is especially high considering that Japanese are still vaccinated against TB.
Much of the increase is among older Japanese, who were presumably infected as children and are now starting to show symptoms. Increases are also being seen in younger people with karaoke boxes and internet cafes are being considered likely incubators.
Karaoke boxes are very small, relatively airless rooms where people go to sing karaoke with their friends. Internet cafes also tend to be very small individual rooms. Both are cheap places to stay over night - less than $10 - and are popular with homeless and other malnourished people. The tight spaces, crowded conditions and also the disinclination of people to take time off work when they are run down are all considered to be factors contributing to the spread. The increase in antibiotic resistant strains hasn't helped.
There is historically a big stigma on TB; Hiro only learned relatively recently that the reason his maternal grandfather was not sent to war was because he had been infected with TB and was considered a liability.
I'm not holding my breath for the day when they deem the rush hour trains a health liability.....
Update from 2012
An acquaintance in Tokyo has recently had a lung removed due to antibiotic resistant TB. The doctors have no idea if she picked it up in Japan or elsewhere.... apparently there have been no advances in TB treatment for 40 years or so.... maybe if it becomes more of a rich world problem it might be prioritised for funding...
Update from 2012
An acquaintance in Tokyo has recently had a lung removed due to antibiotic resistant TB. The doctors have no idea if she picked it up in Japan or elsewhere.... apparently there have been no advances in TB treatment for 40 years or so.... maybe if it becomes more of a rich world problem it might be prioritised for funding...
Don't think it's someone else's problem.
TB is a modern day disease
