WHO has fewer tuberculosis patients worldwide

Number of tuberculosis cases is decreasing worldwide

23/10/2013

Tuberculosis is the world's number one among the deadly infectious diseases. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease is on the decline thanks to effective treatments, however, there are still around three million sufferers falling through the grid of health systems and receive no or only inadequate therapy. The WHO has set itself the goal of preventing new cases and reducing the number of deaths by 2015.

New forms of tuberculosis caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens must be combated
The infectious disease tuberculosis is on the decline. This is clear from the WHO tuberculosis report. According to this report, 8.6 million people were infected with the bacterial disease worldwide in 2012 and fatal for 1.3 million. Overall, this represents a decline of 100,000 cases compared to the previous year. „High-quality treatments for millions have pushed down the numbers, "said Mario Raviglione, WHO director for the worldwide tuberculosis program. „But still too many people do not receive this good care and suffer the consequences. They do not diagnose the disease, they are not treated or they can not handle the information they get.“ According to WHO estimates, around three million sufferers fall through the grid. The goal must therefore be to reach these people.

In addition, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis pathogens would have to be increasingly combated, demands Raviglione. Around 450,000 people were diagnosed with tuberculosis alone in 2012, and existing treatment methods were ineffective. In addition, many countries do not have enough medical staff and medicines to treat all sufferers. „We have patients who are diagnosed with the condition, but the supply of medication is not sufficient and there are not enough trained staff available, "said the expert.

Most common infectious disease
Tuberculosis is the world's most common infectious disease besides HIV. Bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) usually affect the lungs and cause inflammation there. But it can also affect other organs. The transmission of the pathogen takes place in the form of a droplet infection. According to the WHO, about one third of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis. But only between five and ten percent of those infected develop tuberculosis during their lifetime. (Ag)