Tuberculosis is caused by a bacteria that most commonly affects the lungs. Every day, more than 3,300 people die from the disease, with Southeast Asia accounting for the majority. almost 40 percent of deaths. However, it can be prevented and treated, including by using the antibiotic rifampicin.
The WHO has published new testing guidelines, recommending that countries implement innovations such as new near-point-of-care molecular diagnostic tests and tongue swabs, which can help with faster detection.
Fast and accurate diagnosis
The tests are half the price of those currently available, are battery operated and deliver 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 tuberculosis for the first time. Samples can therefore be collected easily, allowing screening among people who are at higher risk of dying from the disease.
“These new tools could be truly transformative for tuberculosis, bringing rapid and accurate diagnosis closer to people, saving lives, stopping transmission and reducing costs,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Beyond tuberculosis, they also have the potential to detect 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, an approach that can improve testing efficiency and significantly reduce costs, particularly when resources are limited.
Global health funding slashed
The WHO noted that Although global efforts to combat tuberculosis have saved an estimated 83 million lives since 2000, funding cuts are putting these gains at risk..
Adoption of rapid diagnostic tools has been a challenge in many countries due to factors such as high costs and reliance on sample transportation to support testing in centralized laboratories.
Although new technologies represent a critical step forward, the UN agency said ending tuberculosis will require sustained investment in research and innovation at a time when global funding for research remains far short of the estimated $5 billion needed annually.
We can end tuberculosis
The new guidelines were published on World Tuberculosis Day, which is celebrated under the slogan “Yes! We can end tuberculosis.”
WHO urged governments to accelerate the implementation of new diagnostic tools, strengthen people-centred tuberculosis 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 global crises and funding constraints.
Every dollar spent fighting tuberculosis generates up to $43 in health and economic benefits.according to Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, director of the Department of HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections at WHO.
“What is required now is Decisive leadership, strategic investment and rapid implementation. of WHO recommendations and innovations to save lives and protect communities,” he said.
