TIMERGARA, March 24: Tuberculosis was fast spreading in Lower Dir despite the fact that health department and world agencies were putting in their efforts to control the disease, said district TB programme coordinator Dr Rabbani here on Monday.

Briefing journalists about the prevailing situation in the district, Dr Rabbani said that eight diagnostic centres including DHQ Timergara, THQ Samar Bagh, THQ Chakdara, 4 RHCs and one TB centre Ouch had been operating for the last 5 years.

He said that 990 TB patients were registered in 2006 out of which 321 had been sputum smear-positive. Dr Rabbani went on saying that again

997 patients of TB were registered in 2007 out of which 354 were proved chronic chest cases.

Dr Rabbani said that the data collected by health officials was showing a little increase in the disease.