Tuberculosis (TB) in Bhutan was well under control and in keeping with international standards, according to the programme manager for TB of the health ministry, Dr Pandup Tshering. But, as Bhutan observed World TB Day at Khasadrapchu, Thimphu, on March 28, the programme manager warned that TB could get out of hand because of the increasing number of people infected with HIV/AIDS and the MDR (multi drug resistant) variant of TB. "A total of 1,050 cases of TB were reported in 2007 in Bhutan, out of which about 350 were sputum positive,' said Dr Pandup Tshering. "Bhutan is doing well in TB case detection and successful treatment of cases in the South East Asia region, but more needs to be done to successfully control the disease.' The theme for this year's World TB Day: "I am stopping TB' was chosen to imply that each and every one could contribute to stalling TB in the country. According to the World Health Organization representative in Bhutan, Ei Kubota, the theme is a message of personal commitment from people in various walks of life to stop TB. "It's a reaffirmation that every individual's contribution counts,' said Mr Kubota. TB in Bhutan is mostly caused by poor sanitation, poor nutrition, hygiene, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, and low immunity in the body. Mr Kubota said that more attention had to be paid to other factors impacting tuberculosis control. He said that both housing and work environments easily allow for transmission of tuberculosis. The director of public health, Dr Ugyen Dophu, said that TB is a curable and preventable disease. In Bhutan, TB can be diagnosed in the national and two regional referral hospital, and district hospitals and the treatment is provided free of cost under the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course) Strategy. "Each and every individual can play a role in stopping the disease. The armed forces, religious personnel, students, teachers, communities all can play an active part in putting an end to the disease,' he said. By Tandin Wangchuk