WHO Global TB Report 2023

WHO Global TB Report 2023

News: India accounted for the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world in 2022, as revealed by the new World Health Organization (WHO) 2023 Global TB report.

Key Findings:
• India accounts for 27% of the world’s TB burden. India recorded 2.8 million TB cases with a 12% case fatality ratio, estimating 342,000 TB-related deaths.
• India recorded 1.1 lakh cases of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in 2022.
• Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is caused by an organism that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most potent TB drugs. These drugs are used to treat all persons with TB disease.
• The global number of newly diagnosed TB cases in 2022, 7.5 million, is the highest since WHO began monitoring in 1995. India, Indonesia, and the Philippines accounted for nearly 60% of the reduction in newly diagnosed TB cases in 2020 and 2021.

What is Tuberculosis?
• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious airborne bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most commonly affects the lungs but can also damage other parts of the body.
• Types of TB related conditions – I) Active TB II) Latent TB III) Multi-Drug Resistant TB III) Extensive Drug Resistant TB (More serious condition than MDR TB where it is resistant to both first and second line TB drugs)

Why TB is prevalent in India?
• A majority of TB patients in India get affected due to undernourishment. Poverty impacts their accessibility to food and ability to get treated which makes them more susceptible to occurrence and continuance of TB.
• Bad habits such as smoking tobacco which is a strong risk factor for both developing TB and dying from it.
• One of the major factors of TB prevalence in India is under-reporting of TB cases. This leaves the risk of spreading TB to other healthy individuals.
• Due to fear of stigmatization and social discrimination patients hesitate to seek treatment and in some cases completely deny their condition.

What are the steps taken by Government of India to tackle TB?
• The government has increased healthcare facilities, TB diagnosis instruments and has increased access to more molecular diagnostic tests like CB-NAAT and TureNAT.
• The government has targeted high-risk populations, such as people living with HIV/AIDS, migrants, and those living in poverty, to improve TB diagnosis and treatment. An online Nikshay portal has been set up to track the notified TB cases.
• National Strategic Plan for TB elimination (2017-25)
• Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: Mobilizes community stakeholders to support TB patients and accelerate India's progress towards TB elimination.
• TB Haarega Desh Jeetega Campaign
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana – Nutritional support to TB patients
• Introduced newer drugs like Bedaquiline and Delamanid for the management of drug-resistant TB (DRTB). Also included in National list of Essential medicine.

Conclusion
• The development of drug resistance in TB is a significant public health concern, and it highlights the importance of appropriate treatment, adherence to medication, and prevention strategies to control the spread of drug-resistant TB strains.