According to the Global Tuberculosis Report 2020 released by World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a 25 to 30 % drop in Tuberculosis (TB) case notification across three high-burden countries – India, Indonesia and Philippines between January-June 2020.
WHO has collected data from 200 countries for the report, the reduction in case notifications may lead to dramatic increase in additional TB deaths.
Key Points:
i.According to the report, the pandemic is reversing the progress made in Global Burden of TB.Â
ii.Due to the pandemic, the global TB deaths may increase by 0.2 – 0.4 million in 2020, the global number of TB deaths may increase by two lakhs to four lakhs in 2020.Â
Tuberculosis in India:
i.According to the report, India has the highest burden of drug-resistant TB.
ii.India (27%), China (14%) and Russian Federation (8%) had the largest share of Tuberculosis in the world.Â
iii.The rate of TB incidence in India is 193 per 1 Lakh population, the total number of cases is estimated at 26, 40, 000.Â
iv.In India, an estimated 26.4 Lakh cases emerged in 2019, 24 lakh cases were reported to the Indian Government, and 2.4 Lakh cases were unreported.Â
v.Globally, an estimated 29 Lakh TB cases went unreported to national TB programmes in 2019.Â
vi.The economic impact of pandemic is expected to worsen two key determinants of TB incidence – Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and undernutrition.Â
TB cases to increase by 10 Lakh:
WHO’s modelling suggested that the number of people developing TB will increase by 10 Lakh per year during 2020-25 period.
Recent Related News:
i.On February 13, 2020, According to the Vikas Sheel, the Joint Secretary in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Tuberculosis (TB) notifications to the government has been increased to 38%, up from 17.36 lakhs in 2017 to 23.98 lakhs in 2019 Since the launch of the new National Strategic Plan (2017-25).
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director General – Tedros Adhanom
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
