The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2022 is out!
The report provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic, and of progress in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease, at global, regional and country levels. Unfortunately, the newest data reflects the lingering repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing economic strain many countries are now facing.
In 2021, an estimated 1.6 million people died of TB, undoing 14 years of steady decline in the TB death rate globally. More alarming, this number represents an increase over the rise in tuberculosis-related deaths the previous year. The number of people falling ill with TB also rose, seeing 10.6 million new cases, of which 1.2 million were children.
Sadly, there is still a substantial global gap between the estimated number of people who fell ill with TB and those newly diagnosed, with 4.2 million people being ‘missed’ by health systems in 2021.
The WHO emphasizes the urgent need for increased funding and efforts to mitigate and reverse the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB.
Impact
The impact of COVID-19 can still be felt. There was almost a 10% reduction in newly diagnosed TB cases globally in 2021 (was 18% reduction in 2020) compared to that of 2019 (pre-covid). This translates to more undiagnosed and untreated TB cases and more TB deaths and community transmission. Resilient and sustainable systems for health are the foundation for defeating today’s infectious diseases and the basis for preventing, preparing for and responding to future pandemics.
Tanzania
Estimated TB incidence: 208/100,000 population
– case notification 66% of the estimated TB cases
– 34% estimated TB cases were missed and thus this is where APOPO tries to fill the gap
– 81% of reported cases were pulmonary but only 43% bacteriologically confirmed
Mozambique
Estimated TB incidence 361/100,000 population
– case notification 84% of the estimated TB cases
– 16% estimated TB cases were missed and thus this is where APOPO tries to fill the gap
– 96% of reported cases were pulmonary but only 38% bacteriologically confirmed
Ethiopia
Estimated TB incidence 119/100,000 population
– case notification 73% of the estimated TB cases
– 27% estimated TB cases were missed and thus this is where APOPO tries to fill the gap
– 69% of reported cases were pulmonary and 65% of these were bacteriologically confirmed
Read the full report:
