Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that most commonly affects the lungs. Every day, more than 3,300 people die from the disease, with Southeast Asia accounting for the largest share of the disease. almost 40 percent of deaths. However, it is both preventable and treatable, including using the antibiotic rifampicin.
The WHO has released new testing guidelines, recommending that countries deploy innovations such as new near-point-of-care molecular diagnostic tests and tongue swabs, both of which can contribute to faster detection.
Fast and accurate diagnosis
The tests cost half the price of those currently available, are battery-operated and provide results in less than an hour, meaning treatment can begin sooner.
Tongue swabs allow adults and young people who cannot produce sputum to be tested for TB for the first time. Specimens can therefore be easily collected, allowing detection among people at increased risk of dying from the disease.
“These new tools could be truly transformative for tuberculosis, enabling rapid and accurate diagnosis to people, saving lives, curbing transmission and reducing costs,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Beyond TB, they also have the ability to test for other diseases such as HIV, mpox and HPV (human papillomavirus).
The guidelines also recommend a sputum pooling strategy in which samples from multiple individuals are mixed and tested together – an approach that can improve testing efficiency and significantly reduce costs, particularly when resources are limited.
Global health funding reduced
The WHO noted that Although global efforts to fight tuberculosis have saved an estimated 83 million lives since 2000, budget cuts are putting these gains at risk..
The adoption of rapid diagnostic tools has been a challenge in many countries due to factors such as high costs and the reliance on transportation of samples for testing in centralized laboratories.
Although the new technologies represent a crucial advance, the UN agency said eradicating TB will require sustained investment in research and innovation at a time when global research funding remains far below the estimated $5 billion a year needed.
We can end TB
The new guidelines were released on the occasion of World TB Day, celebrated under the theme “Yes! We can end TB.”
WHO has urged governments to accelerate the deployment of new diagnostic tools, strengthen people-centered TB care and build resilient health systems.
They are also encouraged to address the social and economic drivers of the disease and protect essential TB services amid a global crisis and funding constraints.
Every dollar spent to fight tuberculosis generates up to $43 in health and economic benefits.according to Dr Tereza Kasaeva, director of the WHO HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections department.
“What is needed now is decisive leadership, strategic investment and rapid implementation recommendations and innovations from WHO to save lives and protect communities,” she said.
