World TB Day and how the pandemic hindered progress
TB is one of the most infectious and deadly diseases globally.
With World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24, we celebrate Dr Robert Koch, who discovered a way to diagnose and cure the disease in 1882.
TB is one of the most infectious and deadly diseases globally.
In 2020, more than nine million people were diagnosed with TB and 1.5 million people died.
Since 2000, global efforts have saved 66 million lives, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an increase in TB cases for the first time in a decade.
The theme for this year’s World TB Day is Invest To End TB. Save Lives. This highlights the urgency for investment in resources required to help with the fight against TB, as well as the commitment from world leaders to help put an end to TB.
What is TB?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterium, causes tuberculosis and has its most profound effect on the lungs.
Because it is airborne, it is highly infectious and spreads when people cough, sneeze or spit. TB is preventable and curable, yet 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis annually. It remains the world’s most infectious killer and is also the leading cause of death to those infected with HIV.
Low to middle-income countries account for 98% of TB infections. Although it is estimated that as much as 25% of the world’s population is infected with TB at any given time, only 5-15% will fall ill. However, an asymptomatic person is as infectious as one with symptoms.
TB has been prevalent for many years, and many of the antibiotics available are proving futile. The various strains have become drug-resistant. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) does not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the first-line anti-TB medication. There are limited second-line treatment drugs, but they also require extensive chemotherapy.
Symptoms of TB
The most common symptoms of TB include a persistent cough that can bring up mucus and blood. Other symptoms include fatigue, night sweats, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss. Symptoms can remain mild for several months, which often delays treatment.
A rapid molecular diagnostic test should be done if these symptoms are present, as they are highly accurate and lead to quick treatment.
Drug-susceptible tuberculosis can be treated with a course of antimicrobial drugs.
The African burden
TB is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Twenty-five percent of all TB cases are in Africa, and so are 25% of all deaths. Africa’s HIV burden causes further complications, as those infected with HIV are 18 times more likely to develop TB.
The conditions form a lethal paradox, both speeding up the development of the other. Eighty-five percent of TB patients in Africa are also HIV positive.
The End TB Strategy
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme aims to lead and guide the global effort to end the TB epidemic once and for all. Ending TB is a developmental challenge and a public health issue. WHO adopted the End TB Strategy in 2014, highlighting that the way forward requires universal access to patient-centred prevention and care, multisectoral action and innovation.
The WHO End TB Strategy serves as a road map, assisting nations to eliminate the catastrophic costs for TB-affected households by 2030. The goal is to reduce TB incidence by 80% and TB deaths by 90%. The strategy is tailored to each country’s diverse needs and contributing factors.
Roche plays a significant role in the fight against TB through its Global Access Programme, which focuses on sustainable solutions that can help diagnose infections and save lives. The Global Access Programme supports the End TB Strategy by expanding access to diagnostics in high-burden countries.
Ultimately, all humans should have access to high-quality diagnostics through meaningful partnerships – both public and private. Reliable and accurate diagnosis reduces the risk of further transmission, delays in treatment, and additional burdens on the healthcare system.
• Issued by Jonathan Keytel – Roche Diagnostics
