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The coronavirus pandemic, which has been going on for several months, also affects the statistics of other infectious diseases. Last year, the number of deaths from tuberculosis increased for the first time in several years. This is the result of less funding for the diagnosis of this disease. The funds were intended mainly for the fight against COVID-19. But it’s not just resurgent tuberculosis that is a problem. In Poland, the number of cases of, among others, for measles.
- Tuberculosis is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases
- The disease kills more people each year than AIDS and malaria, mainly in the poorest countries
- Last year, around 1,5 million people died from tuberculosis worldwide, according to the latest World Health Organization report
- Other diseases that were considered defeated, such as measles, are also a problem
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Tuberculosis – an increase in the incidence for the first time in 15 years
The World Health Organization (WHO) in a recently published report announced that last year, for the first time in 15 years, the number of deaths from tuberculosis in the world increased for the first time in 2020 years. Preliminary data from 1,5 indicate 2019 million deaths, in 1,4 there were XNUMX million victims.
2020 is the first year since 2005 that has seen an increase in deaths from tuberculosis year on year.
Last year, 5,8 million people were diagnosed with tuberculosis. This is a significant decrease compared to 2019, when it was 7,1 million. According to the WHO, about 4 million more people suffer from tuberculosis, but have not yet been diagnosed.
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According to the WHO, during the coronavirus pandemic, the funds spent on tuberculosis diagnostics decreased significantly, and in many regions of the world research and treatment development funding was omitted.
“We cannot accept that 1,5 million people die from tuberculosis year after year because there is no access to diagnostics and drugs that can save their lives,” said Dr. Stijn Deborggraeve, infectious disease advisor to Doctors Without Borders.
Deborggraeve believes that in many countries with large numbers of TB patients, access to tests is limited, and that the American company Cepheid, producing them, is inflating their prices for poorer countries. The expert accused the company of receiving more than $ 250 million in public investment in the development of tuberculosis testing technology and not making it available to the most needy.
- It is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Poles are also ill
In the first decade of 2020, when the WHO announced the threat of a COVID-19 pandemic to the world, all efforts by the health service were suddenly directed to diagnosing the virus and developing methods to prevent the spread of infection. Faced with the new threat, all other health problems, including infectious diseases, have been marginalized. Research laboratories focused on developing diagnostic methods for the new virus, doctors saved patients. Patients with other infectious diseases were not taken care of, putting off their care for the “pocovid” time – said Prof. dr hab. n. biol. Zofia Zwolska – microbiologist, long-term head of the Department of Microbiology of the National Reference Laboratory of Tuberculosis at IGiChP in Warsaw
Tuberculosis – what is this disease?
Tuberculosis is one of the oldest infectious diseases in human history. It is still one of the most human-killing diseases in the world.
Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by infection with mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis bacteria are extremely resistant to drying out and can survive for months in dust particles. However, they show high sensitivity to UV radiation and high temperature. Cooking or pasteurization kills the tuberculosis bacilli quickly.
- The RS virus attacks with doubled force. “Something like that has never happened before”
Classical tuberculosis can be caused by three species of mycobacteria: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis (bovine mycobacterium) and Mycobacterium africanum. The disease can occur in virtually everyone, but most often it develops in the elderly, malnourished or abusing alcohol.
The most common route of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is inhalation route, and the main source of infection are mycobacterial patients, i.e. actively shedding mycobacteria along with the secretions from the respiratory tract. A patient with tuberculosis expels mycobacteria not only when coughing, but also when expectoring, sneezing or talking. One patient with active mycobacteria can infect about 15 people.
Another possible route of infection is alimentary wayalthough in areas with a proper sanitary-veterinary regime it does not always play a role in the transmission of mycobacterium tuberculosis.
If left untreated, active disease usually affects the lungs but can spread to other internal organs through the bloodstream. It leads to a gradual deterioration of the patient’s condition and the intensification of symptoms such as weight loss, hemoptysis, exhaustion, cough and lack of appetite. Without treatment, tuberculosis can be fatal.
“This report confirms our concern that disruptions to basic health services caused by the pandemic could begin to undermine years of progress in the fight against tuberculosis,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO in a press release.
“The report calls on countries to take urgent measures to restore access to basic tuberculosis services,” the WHO press release reads. “In addition, calls are made to double investment in tuberculosis research and innovation, as well as joint efforts in the health and other sectors to address the social, environmental and economic determinants of tuberculosis and its effects,” the experts write.
- The most dangerous infectious diseases
Tuberculosis is a treatable disease if detected early. According to WHO, about 4 million people suffer from tuberculosis who have not been diagnosed. By allocating most of the resources to tackling the coronavirus pandemic, fewer people were examined and referred for treatment.
Global funding for TB diagnostic treatment has fallen from $ 5,8 billion. in 2019 to $ 5,3 billion in 2020. In both cases, this is significantly less than the WHO target of 13 billion.
Last year, the goal set by the WHO related to reducing the number of tuberculosis cases and deaths in 2015-2020 was not achieved. The number of new cases decreased by 11%. (the target was 20%) and the number of deaths by 9,2%, assuming 35%.
Tuberculosis – where is it most common?
WHO estimates that 10 million people worldwide were infected with tuberculosis last year, including 1,1 million children. 86 percent TB cases occur in the 30 countries most at risk. 98 percent tuberculosis cases occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- Stress has no mercy. It leads to faster wear of the organs
Tuberculosis is often called a social disease because it is closely related to living conditions, such as malnutrition, poor housing and sanitation, and poverty. In many countries, the disease is a lethal threat mainly due to the lack of access to medical care
The countries most burdened with tuberculosis are India (the world leader in cases of tuberculosis with almost 3 million cases annually) and Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa.
Tuberculosis in Poland
There are no data on the number of tuberculosis cases in Poland in 2020 yet. Our country has not been included in the WHO report, nor has the National Institute of Hygiene presented the latest data.
- Stress has no mercy. It leads to faster wear of the organs
In 2019, 5 jobs were registered in Poland. 321 cases of tuberculosis. There were 166 cases of tuberculosis less than in 2019 and 2 cases. 188 cases less than in 2010. The incidence of tuberculosis of all types in 2019 was 13,9 and was lower by 2,8%. compared to 2018 and by 29,4 percent. compared to 2010, when it was 19,7.
The most common form of tuberculosis was pulmonary tuberculosis. In 2019, 5 thousand. 75 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, which accounted for 95,4%. all illnesses.
Infectious diseases in Poland – measles is coming back
It’s not just tuberculosis that is a big problem. Other forgotten diseases also come back. This is the case, for example, with measles.
According to the data of the National Institute of Hygiene, 2019 thousand people fell ill with measles in 1. 502 people. This is over four times more than the year before. In 2018, 359 people fell ill. For comparison, in 2017 63 people fell ill, and in 2005-2016 the number of cases ranged from 13 to 133.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in terms of the incidence rate (number of cases per 100 inhabitants), Poland is at the forefront of Europe. In 2019, the total number of recorded measles cases in France, Romania, Italy, Bulgaria and Poland accounted for 65%. all cases of this disease in Europe.
- Measles and whooping cough are back. The number of unvaccinated children is increasing
This is because more and more parents are not vaccinating their children against infectious diseases. Over the last 10 years, the number of such refusals in Poland has increased almost fourteen times. This led to the loss of population immunity to measles.
– In Poland, in recent years we have been observing an extremely disturbing trend, especially among the parents of the youngest children. As a result of the activity of anti-vaccine communities, spreading disinformation and harmful myths, more and more parents avoid compulsory vaccinations of their own children. The situation was certainly not improved by the COVID-19 pandemic and the related fears and limitations in the activities of the primary health care clinic – said Dr. n. med. Hanna Czajka, pediatrician and infectious diseases specialist.
This is a must have in your first aid kit! You can buy an electronic wireless thermometer at Medonet Market. Also, try thermometer stickers for monitoring fever in children
– In order to guarantee the society’s immunity against measles, it is necessary to maintain the vaccination coverage at the level of 95%. Meanwhile, in Poland, the percentage of children vaccinated with the basic dose of MMR (combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine – ed.) Fell below this limit already in 2017, and in 2018 it was less than 93%. Now, please realize that measles is many times more contagious than COVID-19. One sick person can infect up to 18 others – emphasizes Dr. Czajka.
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