Context:
Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2024 released.
Key Highlights:
- Released by – World Health Organisation
- Despite progress, India remains the country with the highest TB burden.
- In 2023, TB likely became the leading cause of death globally, surpassing COVID-19.
- TB treatment coverage has increased to 75%, with a target of 90% by 2027.
- India-Specific Findings –
- India accounted for 26% of the global TB burden and TB-related deaths in 2023.
- India ranks 1st in the burden of multidrug-resistant and Rifampicin-resistant TB.
Tuberculosis:
- Caused by – Bacterium [Mycobacterium tuberculosis]
- It most often affects lungs (Pulmonary TB) but can affect other sites.
- Medications – Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide, Bedaquiline etc.
- Licensed vaccine – Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)
- Diagnosis – Rapid molecular diagnostic tests, Sputum smear microscopy and Chest X-rays.
- Transmission – Person to person through air.
India’s efforts to eliminate Tuberculosis:
- National Strategic Plan (NSP), 2017-2025 – To eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of the SDG 2030 target.
- National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) – Earlier, it was known as Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).
- NIKSHAY Portal – National TB information system to manage patient information and monitor program activity throughout the country.
- NIKSHAY Poshan Yojana – Provides DBT to all TB patients towards nutritional support.
- Initiated by – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Funding – Government of India with World Bank.
- ‘PathoDetect™ kit’, by Pune based Mylab – India’s 1st indigenous TB Detection kit
Source: WHO
Previous Year Question
H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) AIDS
(b) Bird flu
(c) Dengue
(d) Swine flu
Answer: (d)
