Latest Updates on Tuberculosis in India

A total of 21.4 lakh TB cases were notified in India in 2021 18 per cent higher than 2020 with over 22 crore people screened for the disease across the country for early detection and treatment, according to the WHO'S Global TB report. Under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative of the government, more than 40,000 Nikshay Mitra are supporting over 10.45 lakh TB patients all over the country presently, the Union Health Ministry said. The World Health Organization, which released the report on October 27, noted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, treatment, and burden of disease for TB all over the world. Taking note of the report, the Union Health Ministry on Friday claimed that India has, in fact, performed far better on major metrics as compared to other countries over time. "India's TB incidence for the year 2021 is 210 per 100,000 population compared to the baseline year of 2015 (incidence was 256 per lakh of population in India); there ha

Over 9.5 lakh tuberculosis patients have been adopted under the 'Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' which was launched by President Droupadi Murmu on September 9 with an aim to eliminate the disease five years ahead of the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) target of 2030. Under this community support programme, tuberculosis patients can be adopted and cared for by an individual, elected representatives or institutions through Ni-kshay 2.0 portal. So far, the portal has seen 15,415 registrations of 'Ni-kshay Mitras' (TB patient care-takers) which include individuals, organisations, industries and elected representatives among others, an official said. According to government data, of the total 13,53,443 TB patients, including the multi-drug resistant ones, presently on treatment in the country, 9.57 lakh patients have given their consent to be adopted -- and almost all of them (9,56,352) have been adopted till Saturday. The government aims to ensure the adoption of all consente

Of the 1.3 million active patients in India, around 890,000 have given consent to be up for adoption

Will be critical to the success of India's drive to eliminate TB by 2025

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday urged citizens to work collectively towards the elimination of Tuberculosis from the country by 2025 on a war footing, as she virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. Lauding the government's initiative to provide community support to TB patients through the 'Ni-kshay 2.0' portal under which TB patients can be adopted and cared for by an individual, elected representatives or institutions, she urged everyone to make the campaign a people's movement. "When a welfare scheme is made in the interest of people, its chances of success increase manifold," she said in her address. Murmu said of all the infectious diseases, the maximum number of people die in India due to tuberculosis and of the total TB patients in the world, more than 25 per cent are in India, calling it a matter of concern. The President also launched the 'Ni-kshay Mitra' initiative to ensure additional diagnostic, nutritional, and vocational support to those on TB

Tapping the TB testing network, screening tests, quick-result PCRs are all in the works

A newly approved skin test for tuberculosis diagnosis will soon be introduced in the country, Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday, underlining that the kit made in India will be of immense benefit

Currently, the BCG vaccine is used among children at the time of birth

TB notifications started to pick up towards the end of 2020, and a total of 1.8 mn cases could be notified, an increase of 11%

A staggering 65 per cent of the tuberculosis cases in India are in the 15-45 age group, which is the most economically productive population segment, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said

The United States on Friday announced a USD 57 million aid for efforts against tuberculosis in seven high-burden countries, including India

On the basis of the score in State TB Index, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and HP were the best-performing states for tuberculosis control under the category of states with 5 mn population

Prime Minister had launched 'TB Free India' campaign on March 13, 2018 to end TB in India by 2025

Programme aims to broaden access to treatment for multidrug-resistant strain, improve detection, build critical health systems, and raise awareness about TB at community level

Under-nutrition increases the severity of TB, reduces patients' speed of recovery

India must look beyond improving diagnosis and treatment and attack the many factors that are driving tuberculosis

While the number of TB cases fell from 2015 to 2016, the number of MDR TB cases increased by 13 per cent