Tibet reports 30,000 infections of parasitic tapeworm disease

LHASA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tibet Autonomous Region has screened around 3 million people and found 30,000 cases of hydatid disease (Echinococcosis), a fatal parasitic tapeworm disease.

The screening project started this year to control the outbreak affecting China's herding communities, according to the regional health and family planning commission Wednesday

More than 800 medical teams consisting of over 3,000 medical workers from Tibet and 500 experts from the rest of the country were sent to villages in 74 counties and districts of Tibet.

Tibet will provide surgery and medical treatment to those suffering from the serious parasitic disease, caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm, which leads to death if not treated.

The disease mainly affects herding areas in China's Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet and Xinjiang.

Tibet started fighting the disease decade ago. It has monitored the epidemic situation among animals, set up receiving stations for stray dogs and protected water sources.

"Hydatid disease has not only undermines people's health, but also affects the economic and social development of Tibet," said Wang Yunting, director with the commission. "Tibet aims to control the disease by 2020." Enditem