Global Tuberculosis Report 2021 – WHO

Global Tuberculosis Report 2021 – WHO

Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) has released the Global Tuberculosis Report 2021 (TB).

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the TB epidemic and progress in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment at the global, regional and country levels.

TB is caused by Basil Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is transmitted by bacteria that reach the air when a person infected with TB coughs or sneezes.

It most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but can affect other organs as well.

Key features of the report

  • The COVID-19 global pandemic has increased TB deaths for the first time in more than a decade. A total of 1.5 million people (including 2, 14,000 people with HIV) died of TB in the year 2020.
  • TB is the 13th leading cause of death worldwide and the second leading cause of infectious disease death (HIV) after COVID-19.
  • In the year 2020, the 30 countries most prone to TB disease accounted for 86% of new TB cases. Eight countries account for about two-thirds of the total TBK cases, with India leading the way.
  • A large number of TB cases go undetected due to restrictions imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and high barriers to access to diagnostic solutions.
  • India has recorded the biggest drop in detection of new cases (41% of total undetected cases).
  • The achievements of the year 2020 show that the global TB eradication goals are not being adequately followed.

WHO’s TB Eradication Strategy: Achievements of the Year 2020

  1. TB Prevalence Rate
  • Target: To reduce by 20% by the year 2015-2020
  • Achievement : 11%
  1. Number of TB deaths
  • Target: To reduce by 35% by the year 2015-2020
  • Achievement:2% by the year 2020
  1. Percentage of people with TB facing exorbitant costs
  • Target: Zero by 2020
  • Achievement: 47% of TV sufferers face exorbitant costs

Source – The Hindu

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