Global tuberculosis epidemic cannot be ended unless it is eliminated in India
THE 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health taking place in Hyderabad, India, has opened with a call to end the emergency of the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, now responsible for killing some 1.5 million people each year. “Ending the TB emergency starts right here in India,” said José Luis Castro, Executive Director of the
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Scientists Move Closer To Unleashing TB Vaccine
THE Union against Tuberculosis (TB) and Lung Disease Scientific Director, Dr Paula Fujiwara said scientists were a step closer to releasing a vaccine for the deadly disease which has claimed millions of lives globally. By Michael Gwarisa He said this during the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health being held in Hyderabad, India We
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The Union Commences Targeted TB Screening In Communities
THE International Union Against Tuberculosis (TB) and Lung Diseases has commenced targeted screening in Seke and Chitungwiza, with the aim of identifying screening treatment and treatment initiatives on the spot. By Michael Gwarisa According to The Union, the program is targeting high HIV and TB risk groups which include People Living with HIV (PLHIV), former
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Zim Annual TB Incidence Falls By 8%
CASES of new Tuberculosis (TB) infections have declined by 8% at the back of improved access to TB screening treatment and care at community level. By Michael Gwarisa The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is defined as the number of new TB cases in one year per 100,000 population whereas prevalence of tuberculosis is defined as
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Cross Boarder Activity Fertile Ground For Multi Drug Resistant TB
FOLLOWING a positive diagnosis of Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DR TB) in 2010, life for Mr Mthobisi Ndebele (45) from Makokoba, Bulawayo unfolded like a horror movie script in front of his eyes. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Bulawayo Having worked as a Malayitsha for the better part of his life (cross boarder transporter) plying
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Zim To Scale Up Communities Targeted TB Screening
THE Ministry of Health and Care (MoHCC) has set targets to expand targeted community screening for Tuberculosis (TB) in high risk areas, amidst indications that the national treatment coverage rate is still very low, currently at 71 percent against a national target of 90 percent. By Michael Gwarisa in Mangwe District Through a program dubbed
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HIV/TB Co-infection Drives TB Mortality In Matebeleland
MATEBELELAND province currently has the highest TB deaths standing at 19 percent as of 2018 owing to increased cases of HIV/TB co-infection, a health official has said. By Michael Gwarisa in Bulawayo In an interview on the side-lines of the World TB Day commemorations conference in Bulawayo which also marked the presentation of Zimbabwe’s first
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Stool-Based diagnosis Could Eradicate TB In Children
A simple method for processing stool samples for Xpert MTB/RIF testing using minimal equipment has been announced at the 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health and could enable the identification of thousands of children with tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) disease – drastically reducing the numbers of children under five dying from TB. Currently,
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Expensive Drug Resistant TB Drugs Derail Treatment Efforts
People with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continue to be deprived of today’s best-possible treatment in part because of high drug prices, according to a new report—DR-TB Drugs Under the Microscope— released today by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) at the 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health in The Hague. MSF called, in particular, on US
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European Heads of State Snub TB Meeting
THE ongoing United Nations High-Level meeting on Tuberculosis happening in New York has registered a conspicuous absence of European heads of states amidst indications that only the Turkish leader is the only leader from the block to have confirmed attendance to date. HealthTimes Reporter The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) Director
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