TB claims 3 lives every minute

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Chennai: Tuberculosis continues to claim a life every 20 seconds across the globe, leading the United Nations to call for an accelerated action.

Though the epidemic is reported to have receded on record, its rate of decline is far too slow. And despite a concerted treatment, millions of people around the world are still missing out on the chances of recovery.

The main reasons for the setback in tuberculosis recovery are threefold. One is the growing number of multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) bacteria strains — bacteria that develop drug resistance for a variety of formulations. The second is the extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) forms of tuberculosis. And the third is the growing incidence of the TB/HIV co-epidemic, a more deadly combination.

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Taking note of the serious situation, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has insisted on effective implementation of Stop TB Strategy and a global plan to stop TB.

The World Health Organisation has rated MDR-TB as an urgent public health priority and has called for a three-day meeting of all health ministers, including India, in Beijing from April 1 to 3, 2009.

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In India 1.9 million tuberculosis cases are registered every year. Owing to improper treatment, including premature stopping of drugs, there is also a huge increase in the number of MDR-TB cases in the country.

What is more appalling is the fact that India has only 14 MDR-TB testing labs across the country to diagnose such cases and of them only seven of the labs have government accreditation.

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