Tuberculosis Screening at Mbuji-Mayi Prison Confirms Six Cases

Six confirmed cases of tuberculosis have been reported at Mbuji-Mayi Central Prison in the Kasaï-Oriental province. The cases were identified following a screening campaign held between June 11 and June 15. Dr. Marcel Kazadi, the provincial coordinator for tuberculosis control, stated that the campaign screened over 590 inmates and prison staff. During the screening, seventy-six individuals exhibited symptoms suggestive of the disease. Dr. Kazadi confirmed that measures are in place for the treatment of the affected individuals, and the necessary medications are available for the eighty-two people identified as needing care. However, Dr. Kazadi expressed concern over the current living conditions, where healthy prisoners are housed with those infected. He pointed out that the prison lacks dedicated rooms for tuberculosis patients, a situation he believes fuels the disease's transmission within the facility. "If at least we had rooms where we could separate these sick people from those who are not yet infected, that would be a good thing. At that point, we can cut this chain of transmission, but they live together every day," he lamented. The provincial coordinator stressed the urgent need to construct separate facilities for patients to curb the spread of tuberculosis. This call echoes a similar appeal made in March 2026 for the construction of two rooms outside the main dormitories to halt the transmission of contagious diseases in the confined environment.