World TB Day: 10 facts about TB

1. Mantoux test is done to identify patients who are infected with the tuberculous infection; they may or may not have the disease. This test is also used as a public-health measure to detect infection in patient's family and friends.

2. Kinyoun stain shows presence of mycobacteria in sputum sample.

Fact 1

Tuberculosis (TB) is contagious and spreads through the air. If not treated, each person with active TB can infect on average 10 to 15 people a year.

Stopping the educational decline

I am disheartened about the just released 2009 NECO results of Senior secondary students in Nigeria. According to sources (click here), only 1.8% [of 234,682 students ]made the requisite 5 credits subject pass (including in English and Mathematics) needed for higher degree study. In 2008, it was 27.64%.

That is a too wide chasm for students to have fallen through in one year. How could our secondary school education have declined so rapidly?