China's Ministry of Health reports about 900,000 cases of active TB in 2011

"About 900,000 cases of active tuberculosis (TB) were discovered and treated [in China] in 2011, including 423,000 infectious cases, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced Monday at a press conference," Xinhua reports. "Xiao Donglou, a health inspector from the MOH, said at the press conference that China improved its ability to prevent and control TB last year, focusing on HIV/TB co-infections and cases of TB among the country's migrant population," noting "1,701 HIV/TB co-infections were reported last year, as well as 51,682 cases of TB among the migrant population," the news agency writes.

"Xiao also mentioned China's cooperation with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), saying TB programs funded by the Global Fund have resumed operation following half a year of 'correcting and readjusting,'" Xinhua notes (3/19). "The ministry urged health departments at all levels to further strengthen supervision of medical waste, Xinhua said in a separate report citing ministry spokesman Deng Haihua," according to Bloomberg News (Yang, 3/19).