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The spread of drug-resistant strains of TB is a key concern, combined with the need for new drug treatments and better access to care for those in need, said the document. This statistics was lesser than two-thirds of the 9.6 million people worldwide estimated to have fallen sick with TB a year ago. The MDG’s were reached globally and in 16 of 22 high-burden countries, but only a quarter of cases have been reported, according to the report, which lists China, India and the Russian Federation as the countries with the greatest prevalence of TB.
Deaths from HIV/Aids have also been falling rapidly because of improved access to anti-retroviral drugs.
According to a report released by the World Health Organization on Wednesday, for the first time, tuberculosis infections have rivaled HIV/AIDS as a leading cause of death from infectious diseases.
The report said 58 per cent of TB cases were in the Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions, where Australia gives most of itsaid. “We are still facing a burden of 4,400 people dying every day,
which is unacceptable in an era when you can diagnose and cure almost every person with tuberculosis”.
Dr. Mario Raviglione, who directs the WHO TB program, noted that the report shows how much progress science and medicine have made with regards to treating HIV/AID. Even more worrying, the total number of people diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB globally in 2014 (123,000) was lower than the previous year (136,000), although the total estimated number of people who developed multidrug-resistant TB remained the same.
The report compiled data from 205 countries and territories and covered all aspects of tuberculosis, including drug-resistant cases, research and development and financing. But it also reflects disparities in funding for the two global killers. Forty-three countries reported cure rates for MDR-TB patients of more than 75%.
“A primary reason for detection and treatment gaps is a major shortfall in funding”, said Dr Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho, WHO Assistant Director-General for HIV, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. Treatment can take 2 years or more with drugs that cause severe side-effects; a few patients are left completely deaf.
In a report, interim medical director of Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, Dr. Grania Brigden, said “This report should serve as a wake-up call that a lot of work still needs to be done in order to reduce the burden of this ancient, yet curable disease”.
“Ending the TB epidemic is now part of the Sustainable Development Goal agenda” said Dr Eric Goosby, UN Special Envoy on Tuberculosis.
The spread of drug-resistant strains of TB is a key concern, combined with the need for new drug treatments and better access to care for those in need, said the document. This statistics was lesser than two-thirds of the 9.6 million people worldwide estimated to have fallen sick with TB a year ago. The MDG’s were reached globally and in 16 of 22 high-burden countries, but only a quarter of cases have been reported, according to the report, which lists China, India and the Russian Federation as the countries with the greatest prevalence of TB.
Deaths from HIV/Aids have also been falling rapidly because of improved access to anti-retroviral drugs.
According to a report released by the World Health Organization on Wednesday, for the first time, tuberculosis infections have rivaled HIV/AIDS as a leading cause of death from infectious diseases.
The report said 58 per cent of TB cases were in the Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions, where Australia gives most of itsaid. “We are still facing a burden of 4,400 people dying every day,
which is unacceptable in an era when you can diagnose and cure almost every person with tuberculosis”.
Dr. Mario Raviglione, who directs the WHO TB program, noted that the report shows how much progress science and medicine have made with regards to treating HIV/AID. Even more worrying, the total number of people diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB globally in 2014 (123,000) was lower than the previous year (136,000), although the total estimated number of people who developed multidrug-resistant TB remained the same.
The report compiled data from 205 countries and territories and covered all aspects of tuberculosis, including drug-resistant cases, research and development and financing. But it also reflects disparities in funding for the two global killers. Forty-three countries reported cure rates for MDR-TB patients of more than 75%.
“A primary reason for detection and treatment gaps is a major shortfall in funding”, said Dr Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho, WHO Assistant Director-General for HIV, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. Treatment can take 2 years or more with drugs that cause severe side-effects; a few patients are left completely deaf.
In a report, interim medical director of Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, Dr. Grania Brigden, said “This report should serve as a wake-up call that a lot of work still needs to be done in order to reduce the burden of this ancient, yet curable disease”.
“Ending the TB epidemic is now part of the Sustainable Development Goal agenda” said Dr Eric Goosby, UN Special Envoy on Tuberculosis.
