31 OCTOBER 2012

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually infects the lungs, but can attack almost any part of the body. Tuberculosis is spread from person to person through the air. When a person with TB in their lungs or throat coughs, laughs, sneezes, sings, or even talks, the germs that cause it may spread through the air. If another person breathes in these germs, there is a chance that they will become infected with the disease. Usually a person has to be close to someone with TB disease for a long period of time before be contaminated with the disease. TB is usually spread between family members, close friends, and people who work or live together. TB is also spread most easily in closed spaces over a long period of time.

But in today's edition of View Point, The New Republic samples the views of some Liberians on the prevention of the risky disease.

John Victor

Commenting on what can be done to prevent the spread of the deadly disease, John Victor opined that it was preventable when those infected stop sneezing and coughing openly among those who are not infected. Victor also added that the spread of the disease can also prevent when those infected are taken to the hospitals to live until the person is in good health.

In his view, it is most practical way to deal with the threats of the disease which has caused the deaths of millions of people worldwide.

Frances Nippy

For her part, Frances Nippy agreed with Victor by indicating that the disease can be prevented when TB patients are bold to tell their friends and relatives that they are suffering from the disease.

On that basis, he can be told what to do in terms having and using things such as cups, pens and other household utensils all by themselves and not sharing them with people in the home. It is proven that TB is contacted from the inter-exchange of household materials.

Richard Massaquoi

Besides their suggestions, others such as Richard Massaquoi are of the view that affected persons should take advantage of available medications.

He said the disease can be prevented when those suffering from it are honest to themselves by going to the TB clinic and complete their treatment before returning home to their family
.