HONG KONG, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The annual reported cases of tuberculosis in Hong Kong have been maintained at around 6,000 in recent years, a stable downwards trend, but the community should always be vigilant against the infectious disease, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food under Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government Dr. York Chow said here Saturday.

    Officiating at a World TB Day ceremony here Saturday, Dr. Chow said continuous collaborative efforts are essential in the fight against the disease as it remains a global threat and ranks high among the world's most popular infectious diseases.

    The World TB Day, set on March 24 by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to arouse public awareness of the importance of timely diagnosis and effective treatment for TB patients to prevent the spread of the disease.

    This year, WHO reported that extensive drug-resistant TB cases were confirmed in different parts of the world and called for immediate efforts to stop the situation from worsening.

    Director of Health Dr. Lam Ping-yan said the incubation period of TB can be very long and the community should be vigilant against it.

    Hong Kong has adopted the Directly Observed Treatment recommended by WHO since 1970s with remarkable results.