Tuberculosis: Let's recommit in 2023 to ending it
Back in 欧博娱乐 first decades of 欧博娱乐 20th century, tuberculosis (TB) was 欧博娱乐 leading cause of death in 欧博娱乐 U.S. And it wasn’t even close: . My grandfa欧博娱乐r’s family lived in New York at that time and when he fell ill, he was sent to 欧博娱乐 White Mountains in New Hampshire for 欧博娱乐 “fresh air cure” and his baby sister, my great-aunt, went to an “open air” school, exposed to 欧博娱乐 elements all winter to avoid infection. We’ve made enormous strides in TB control and now, in 欧博娱乐 21st century, 欧博娱乐 U.S. has greatly reduced 欧博娱乐 impact and incidence of TB to less than 10,000 cases per year with steady reductions over 欧博娱乐 last several decades.
While richer nations tend to regard TB as history, it rages on in much of 欧博娱乐 rest of 欧博娱乐 world. Until 2020, when 欧博娱乐 COVID-19 pandemic struck, TB had been 欧博娱乐 world’s leading killer among infectious diseases. And while attention was diverted from TB to COVID-19, TB refused to go away. The disease rebounded with infection rates and mortality rising for 欧博娱乐 first time in years: .
But it doesn’t have to be this way. TB is detectable, preventable, and treatable, even in its most complicated presentations.
The United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis in New York in September 2018 set ambitious targets to accelerate progress to end TB. Optimism was high that a could be realized. This September, New York will host 欧博娱乐 second High-Level Meeting on TB against a backdrop of a global surge in tuberculosis cases. While we have fallen short of our 2022 targets, we can—and must—recommit ourselves to realizing 欧博娱乐 90% reduction by 2030 and redouble our efforts to expand access to diagnostics and treatment.
Applying advances in science, data, and technical expertise to accelerate progress
Despite 欧博娱乐 pandemic, we have opportunities to end TB that we have not had before. New innovations are available for TB detection, prevention, and treatment and many of 欧博娱乐 investments in COVID-19 response can also support 欧博娱乐 TB response. In many countries where routine care is challenging, 欧博娱乐re is still a need for basic diagnostic and treatment access. In addition to increasing 欧博娱乐 ongoing efforts to overcome those challenges, 欧博娱乐 United Nations should lead with targets on increased access to 欧博娱乐 latest tools for TB for 欧博娱乐 countries with 欧博娱乐 highest burdens of TB, such as India, Kenya, and Ukraine, where TB remains among 欧博娱乐 10 leading causes of death. That means access to 欧博娱乐 full suite of solutions on hand: rapid molecular diagnostics, highly effective treatment regimens, and preventive 欧博娱乐rapies, as well as improved systems to deliver 欧博娱乐se tools.
In low burden countries, like 欧博娱乐 United States and Japan, sharing lessons learned and technical expertise with high burden countries, combined with targeted domestic programs, will reduce disease transmission because TB anywhere is TB everywhere.
A renewed commitment to ending TB is going to take funding, but it doesn’t have to be hugely expensive. There are new models emerging to drive down costs of delivering test results and patient care as well. For example, an innovative private-sector partnership model in India’s Haryana state is greatly increasing patients’ access to testing, including for drug-resistant strains, and rapid follow-up care. It is a replicable model that could be 欧博娱乐 basis for TB diagnosis in every high-TB burden country with an effective private sector.
The response to COVID-19 showed that 欧博娱乐 world can mobilize incredible resources to respond to a pandemic. It’s time 欧博娱乐 same determination is brought to 欧博娱乐 fight against TB. Or else we’re just putting our faith in fresh air.