Hope on the horizon as high incidence countries focus efforts on eradicating tuberculosis

4 months ago 13

Leaders from 13 countries that suffer from high levels of tuberculosis (TB), including Poland and Romania, renewed their political commitment to eradicate and treat the debilitating disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO)/Europe Region and the STOP TB partnership facilitated a meeting in Uzbekistan, on 24-25 June. Several international organisations came together with country representatives to revisit the UN General Assembly’s resolution on TB, including a commitment to diagnose and treat 90% of people who develop the disease.

“We are a long way from ending TB in the European Region, but there is hope on the horizon,” said WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge on Monday 24 June.

The WHO and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) revealed in March how progress in diagnosing and treating tuberculosis was setback during the COVID pandemic. This damaged access to tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, slowing and sometimes reversing progress made up to 2019.

In the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA), cases rose from 33,500 in 2021 to 36,000 in 2022. With Romania having the highest number of cases, with 9,270 cases.

The EU’s neighbouring countries and membership candidates, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, also suffers from a relatively high burden from the disease.

“In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, we still have a long road ahead of us for meeting the TB elimination targets,” said ECDC Director Dr Andrea Ammon.

“Countries must act now, and the ECDC remains committed to partnering with and supporting EU/EEA countries in their efforts to end the TB epidemic,” she added.

The ECDC has set targets for 2030 to reduce TB incidence by 80% and TB deaths by 90%. While the reduction in deaths is on track, the rise in the number of cases is worrying.

Drug-resistant TB

Six out of every 10 treatments using first-line medicines rifampicin and isoniazid were successful. Kluge reassured participants that new evidence showed how a reduced 9-month treatment plan for multidrug-resistant TB [MDR-TB] has a success rate of 83%.

“In the past, treatment for MDR-TB could take as long as 3 years. But with this new regimen, there are no injectables and far fewer pills to take, which means patients can be cared for in their communities, by their families and loved ones, and in some cases even keep working.”

WHO/Europe which covers 53 countries has said that all countries, improve data collection. Of the 30 indicators described in the Tuberculosis Action Plan for the WHO European Region 2023 -2030 only 20 have been monitored using routine surveillance collection.

“There is a clear need for all countries in the Region, including those in the EU/EEA, to focus on improving data, make data more representative and complete.”

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]