Thursday 12th May 2016- The World Health Organisation:Rapid diagnostic test and shorter, cheaper treatment signal new hope for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients

‘New WHO recommendations aim to speed up detection and improve treatment outcomes for multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) through use of a novel rapid diagnostic test and a shorter, cheaper treatment regimen.

“This is a critical step forward in tackling the MDR-TB public health crisis,” said Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “The new WHO recommendations offer hope to hundreds of thousands of MDR-TB patients who can now benefit from a test that quickly identifies eligibility for the shorter regimen, and then complete treatment in half the time and at nearly half the cost.”’

‘At less than US$ 1000 per patient, the new treatment regimen can be completed in 9–12 months. Not only is it less expensive than current regimens, but it is also expected to improve outcomes and potentially decrease deaths due to better adherence to treatment and reduced loss to follow-up.

The conventional treatment regimens, which take 18–24 months to complete, yield low cure rates: just 50% on average globally. This is largely because patients find it very hard to keep taking second-line drugs, which can be quite toxic, for prolonged periods of time. They therefore often interrupt treatment or are lost to follow-up in health services.’

‘WHO’s recommendations on the shorter regimens are based on initial programmatic studies involving 1200 patients with uncomplicated MDR-TB in 10 countries . WHO is urging researchers to complete ongoing randomised controlled clinical trials in order to strengthen the evidence base for use of this regimen.’

‘The most reliable way to rule out resistance to second-line drugs is a newly recommended diagnostic test for use in national TB reference laboratories. The novel diagnostic test – called MTBDRsl – is a DNA-based test that identifies genetic mutations in MDR-TB strains, making them resistant to fluoroquinolones and injectable second-line TB drugs.’

‘This test yields results in just 24-48 hours, down from the 3 months or longer currently required. The much faster turnaround time means that MDR-TB patients with additional resistance are not only diagnosed more quickly, but can quickly be placed on appropriate second-line regimens. WHO reports that fewer than 20% of the estimated 480 000 MDR-TB patients globally are currently being properly treated.’

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Rapid diagnostic test and shorter, cheaper treatment signal new hope for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients

Wednesday 2nd December 2015- World Health Organisation: World’s first child-friendly TB medicines in correct doses

‘WHO joined the TB Alliance and partners today to announce the availability of child-friendly tuberculosis (TB) medicines in the correct doses. The improved treatments are the first to meet the dosage guidelines set by the WHO in 2010. They are dispersible and palatable, simple to administer and affordable. The availability of these products is a result of a project largely funded by UNITAID.

According to WHO, at least 1 million children become ill with TB each year and 140 000 children die of this curable disease. To date, children around the world have not yet had access to appropriate TB medicines.

“The availability of correctly dosed medications will improve treatment for children everywhere,” said Dr. Mel Spigelman, President and CEO of TB Alliance, an international non-profit organization, ahead of the 46th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Cape Town, South Africa. “This is an important step toward ending the neglect that has characterized the care of children with TB for far too long.” TB Alliance has partnered with WHO, UNITAID, USAID, and others in the development and introduction of these products.’

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World’s first child-friendly TB medicines in correct doses

Wednesday 28th October 2015- BBC News: TB ‘joins HIV as most deadly infection’

‘Tuberculosis now ranks alongside HIV as the world’s most deadly infectious disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

Each accounted for between 1.1 million and 1.2 million deaths in 2014.

The WHO said the tuberculosis figures were unacceptable for a disease that could be cured.

Medecins Sans Frontieres said the statistics were “disheartening” and warned the world was “losing ground” on tackling resistant forms of TB.

The WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2015 shows the huge strides that have been made in tackling TB, with the death rate being nearly halved since 1990.

And the number of infections has been falling by 1.5% a year since 2000.

Deaths from HIV/Aids have also been falling rapidly because of improved access to anti-retroviral drugs.

Dr Mario Raviglione, the WHO’s tuberculosis director, told the BBC News website: “Tuberculosis and HIV are now competing to be the number one cause of death from infectious disease in the world.

“Tuberculosis now ranks alongside HIV.”

Most new cases of TB are in China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria or Pakistan.’

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TB ‘joins HIV as most deadly infection’

Tuesday 27th October 2015- The Guardian: TB rates in parts of London ‘worse than Iraq, Eritrea and Rwanda’

‘Boris Johnson is being urged to “get a grip” on London’s tuberculosis problem after a report revealed that parts of the capital have higher rates of the disease than Rwanda, Eritrea and Iraq.

There were more than 2,500 new cases of TB in London last year – about 40% of the UK’s total – according to a report issued by the London assembly and presented to Johnson, the mayor.

The study found a third of London boroughs exceed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) “high incidence” threshold with more than 40 cases per 100,000 people.

And some borough wards are recording markedly more – areas of Hounslow, Brent, Harrow, Newham and Ealing have rates of more than 150 per 100,000 people.

WHO figures from 2013 show Iraq had 45 per 100,000 while Rwanda had 69 and Eritrea 92. Taken as a whole, the UK had 13 cases per 100,000.’

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TB rates in parts of London ‘worse than Iraq, Eritrea and Rwanda’

Wednesday 16th September 2015- The Guardian: TB outbreak confirmed at school in Devon

‘Nearly 200 people have tested positive for a tuberculosis infection following an outbreak at a school in Devon.

Public Health England, which released the results on Wednesday of screening that took place over the summer term at Teign school, an 11-18 academy in Kingsteignton near Newton Abbot, said the majority of transmissions occurred during the 2013/14 school year.

Many of those who tested positive are receiving treatment for latent TB infection to prevent the development of the disease in the future. Health authorities stressed they do not have the disease and are not infectious.

Dr Sarah Harrison, deputy director of health protection for Public Health England South-West, said: “The situation is under control and the risk of further infection within the school is now no greater than that in the general public.”

She said that the year groups primarily affected were those of two students with infectious TB, adding: “Of those screened as school contacts, fewer than 10 people are being treated for active TB. These were all diagnosed in the early stages of disease. There have been no further infectious cases at the school.

“Consequently, we do not anticipate the need for any further screening at the school and it can continue to operate as normal.”’

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TB outbreak confirmed at school in Devon