China's Health Ministry Tuesday detailed a plan to fight co-infection of HIV and tuberculosis (TB). A ministry circular to health authorities across China said tuberculosis infection had become one of the leading causes of death among people living with HIV. People living with HIV whose immune systems were compromised by the virus are more likely to contract TB, and even die of it. The number of cases of co-infection was still unknown, Xinhua reported. The ministry ordered HIV/AIDS prevention and control authorities nationwide and those responsible for TB to step up cooperation in data sharing and testing. The ministry ordered free treatment and follow-up visits to patients co-infected with HIV and TB once detected. It required HIV/AIDS prevention authorities to annually provide at least one TB examination to people with HIV or AIDS patients.
