Newsletter

Copenhagen, March 2016 r.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in the WHO European Region. According to the latest estimates, about 340 000 new cases of TB and 33 000 deaths have been reported in the Region in 2014 g., mainly in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe (rice. 1).

During the last 10 years, the number of new TB cases has decreased on average by 5,2% in year. However, TB case registration rates in high TB ​​priority countries remain almost eight times higher, than other countries in the Region.

Treatment results also remain unsatisfactory. Treatment success rates for newly diagnosed cases and relapses, registered in 2013 year, made up 76%, and for previously treated patients, they were 58%. Only about a third of people, who have been diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB (MLU-TB), were successfully treated in 2012 r. (rice. 2).

Multidrug-resistant TB

Region has the highest rates of drug-resistant TB in the world. From 30 countries with a high burden of MDR-TB 9 countries in the Region.[1] Percentage of MDR among newly diagnosed and previously treated TB patients in 2014 year in the Region was, respectively, 18,4% and 46,2%.

According to calculations, annually about 73 000 people in the Region develop MDR-TB. Due to limited access to diagnostics, only 33 000 (45%) of which were identified in 2014 year. Almost all MDR-TB patients now have access to treatment, however, the success rate remains lower 75% target, of the Tuberculosis Action Plan for the WHO European Region 2016–2020.[2]

IN 2014 year were recorded 966 Extensively drug-resistant TB cases (SHLU-TB). XDR-TB is about 18% MDR-TB cases, however, most XDR-TB cases also occur in 15 high TB ​​burden countries.

Co-infection with HIV and TB

TB is one of the leading causes of death in humans, living with HIV. This deadly combination of infections continues to spread in the Region. The percentage of HIV cases among TB patients increased from 3,4% in 2008 year before 8,0% in 2014 year.

IN 2014 year it was revealed about 17 000 from calculated 20 000 HIV-infected patients with TB co-infection, however only 37% of which antiretroviral therapy was offered.

WHO response

In collaboration with national and international partners, as well as civil society organizations, WHO has been implementing the MDR-TB Action Plan for 2011-2015 yy. (MAP) and assisted European countries in adapting evidence-based interventions to improve TB and M / XDR-TB prevention and control.

WHO also established the European Green Light Committee and the European Laboratory Initiative to help countries develop and / or adapt their national M / XDR-TB response plans..

WHO support includes: setting norms and standards, provision of technical assistance, developing partnerships, capacity building, creation and dissemination of evidence, as well as monitoring and evaluation. The Regional Office works with Member States to address key prevention issues, diagnosis and treatment of TB in order, to make healthcare services human-centered and more effective.

Forward planning

Period of execution Comprehensive action plan to prevent and control multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in the WHO European Region[3] came to an end in 2015 year.

Based on experience, extracted during the implementation of the plan, in line with the Global End TB Strategy and Health 2020, as well as based on proposals from countries, partners, civil society organizations and communities WHO has developed Tuberculosis Action Plan for the WHO European Region at 2016-2020 yy. The plan was unanimously endorsed by Member States in the WHO European Region at the 65th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, which took place in Vilnius (Lithuania) 14–17 September 2015 r.

The new plan provides for a series of clearly defined activities by all countries, including countries with low new TB cases, partners and WHO to, to get closer to the goal of eliminating TB in the Region, as stipulated by the Sustainable Development Goals.

TB Facts

TB is an infectious disease, transmitted, when a person inhales bacteria, exhaled by a sick person. The causative agent of tuberculosis is most often Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A third of the world's population is infected, one tenth of it will get sick throughout its life.

Symptoms vary depending on whether, which organ of the body is affected by the disease. In pulmonary TB, common symptoms are: productive cough (sometimes with blood), shortness of breath and chest pain. There are also common symptoms such, like a fever in the evening, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue and muscle weakness. People, living with HIV or suffering from other diseases, weakening the immune system (eg, diabetes or receiving immunosuppressants), are at a much higher risk of developing the disease.

MDR-TB is resistant to the two most potent anti-TB drugs. It is the result of inappropriate TB treatment and / or inadequate infection control measures, airborne, in healthcare facilities and crowded places. XDR-TB is resistant to the most important first- and second-line anti-TB drugs, and has little chance of being cured.

Anyone can get TB, however, it is most common in young people in the eastern part of the European Region, among migrants and elderly local population of Western European countries. TB is closely related to social determinants of health, such as migration, incarceration and social marginalization.

For more information, visit the WHO Regional Office for Europe website (http://www.euro.who.int/tb).

For more information, please, refer to:

Communication specialist, Department of Infectious Diseases and Health Safety

WHO Regional Office for Europe

Tel.: +45 45336837

Email: csa@euro.who.int

Copyright World Health Organization 2016 r. All rights reserved.