More than 3,000 inmates are being treated for tuberculosis to stop the spread of the deadly bacteria in 142 prisons, as the government attempts to make Thailand TB-free.
Inmates are among groups listed as having high risk of contracting the disease and a recent check of 310,000 prisoners in prisons nationwide proved it.
Officials have found up to 24,436 suspected cases and among them, 3,368 have been confirmed to be living with TB, Disease Control Department chief Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk said as he announced the results of the checkup yesterday.
In addition to taking X-rays of inmates' lungs, officials also used Gene Xpert, a tool which not only tells whether a person is infected with TB but can also tell whether the bacteria found in that person is resistant to certain TB drugs.
The number of patients is "very high" when compared to the proportion of people with TB outside prisons, Corrections Department chief Kobkiat Kasiwiwat said.
The finding shows there are about 1,000 TB patients for every 100,000 inmates, which is much higher than the 100:100,000 ratio among the general population.
These infected inmates will be separated for immediate treatment as an immediate response to the check-up.
They will be given medication and kept under close observation, Mr Kobkiat said.
His department has been working with disease control officials from the Public Health Department after the government launched a plan to curb TB in Thailand.
The five-year plan, which started this year, aims to "give healthy people back to society".
It is the first time the two departments conducted such a TB test, Dr Jedsada said, adding yearly physical examinations will take place to make sure there are no new cases.
If TB in patients is detected early and they receive treatment, they will have a high chance of returning to normal health again, he said.
The Disease Control Department chief played down concerns over the spread of TB from inmates to prison officials.
While it is possible, such cases are very rare, Dr Jedsada said.
