World Health Organization Urges Immediate Measures to Eradicate Tuberculosis by 2030
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Synopsis
On March 24, the <b>WHO</b> urged nations in the <b>Western Pacific</b> to take immediate steps to eliminate <b>Tuberculosis</b> by <b>2030</b>. With millions affected, decisive action is essential to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.
Key Takeaways
- WHO calls for urgent action against TB.
- Nearly one in five TB cases are in the Western Pacific.
- 1.9 million new cases and 95,000 TB deaths in 2023.
- Every missed case is a missed opportunity to save lives.
- TB is preventable and treatable.
Manila, March 24 (NationPress) The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday emphasized the necessity for nations to undertake urgent and decisive actions to eradicate Tuberculosis (TB) by 2030.
"This call to action is particularly pressing in the WHO Western Pacific region, where nearly one in five TB cases are reported," stated the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in their press release for World TB Day, observed annually on March 24.
With an alarming estimate of 1.9 million new TB cases and 95,000 deaths attributed to the disease in 2023, the Manila-based office highlighted the profound impact TB has on families and communities, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
“Each undiagnosed TB case represents a lost chance to save a life,” remarked Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO regional director for the western Pacific.
“We must convert our pledges into concrete actions, ensuring that every individual at risk receives the prompt, high-quality diagnosis and care they rightfully deserve.”
The WHO defines TB as an infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs, caused by bacteria. It is transmitted through the air when individuals with TB cough, sneeze, or spit. Although TB is preventable and treatable with specific antibiotics, it still claims more lives than any other infectious disease.
Every year, around 10 million individuals contract TB. Despite its preventable and curable nature, 1.5 million people succumb to TB annually, making it the leading infectious killer globally.
TB is the primary cause of death among individuals with HIV and significantly contributes to antimicrobial resistance.
While most TB cases occur in low and middle-income nations, the disease is present worldwide. Approximately half of all TB patients reside in just eight countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and South Africa.
Roughly a quarter of the global population is believed to be infected with TB bacteria; however, many will not develop TB disease, and some will naturally eliminate the infection. Those infected but not yet symptomatic cannot transmit the disease.
