Ranchi, July 21: The government today acknowledged that there has been a phenomenal rise in the number of tuberculosis cases in the city and its suburbs. "Reports filtering in from various government hospitals and healthcare centres indicate that, of late, there has been a rapid increase in the number of tuberculosis patients in Ranchi and in its adjoining rural areas,' Ranchi civil surgeon Geeta Kanth said. On the reason for the spread of the disease, she said: "While lack of nutritious diet continues to be a main cause, other reasons like poverty, illiteracy and stopping intake of medicines midway are the main reasons for the rapid spread of the disease.' "Most people come to us very late. There are also patients who switch from one doctor to another, stop intake of the regular course of anti- tuberculosis medicines midway leading to relapse of the disease. "There is also the reason that people, without any apparent reason, have little faith on medicines which though costly and demand prolonged intake, are supplied free by the state hospitals.' "Though tuberculosis is now completely curable, it is unfortunate that there has been a rapid rise in the disease as found through hospital and healthcare centre registers,' she conceded. As a preventive measure, Sadar hospital has begun a two-day refresher course today.