Brazil moves away from WHO tuberculosis elimination target
A study by the Gonzalo Muniz Institute, a branch of the research institute Fiocruz in Bahia state, found that the public policies underway in Brazil will not be enough for the nation to meet the targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the elimination of tuberculosis. On the contrary, the current trend shows an increase in cases.
The research was based on data from disease registries from January 2018 to December 2023. The results were compiled in an article in the latest edition of the scientific journal The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. This Friday (Feb. 7), the Fiocruz website published a note with the main conclusions.
In 2023, Brazil registered 39.8 cases of tuberculosis for every 100 thousand people. The projections indicate that, by 2030, the incidence should be even higher—42.1 for every 100 thousand people.
The landscape in Brazil is moving further and further away from the goal of eliminating the disease in the Americas by 2035. The WHO expects to reduce incidence by 50 percent in 2025 and 80 percent in 2030 compared to 2015 rates. If Brazil were on track, it should have reached 6.7 cases per 100 thousand citizens by 2023.
The researchers do not question the value of current public policies, but point to the need to create integrated strategies and list challenges that must be faced. These include limited access to healthcare, non-adherence to treatment, and limited resources for innovative efforts to control the disease in the last decade. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were also mentioned. Services with a focus on tuberculosis control have been greatly affected.
“If there were an expansion in the coverage of directly observed therapy, adherence to preventive treatment, and contact investigation, combined with efforts to reduce the number of cases of tuberculosis among vulnerable populations, the incidence could be lowered to 18.5 cases per 100 thousand, even though this is still above WHO targets. With these interventions, reductions of 25.1 percent in the projected incidence by 2025 and 56.1 percent by 2030 were observed, highlighting the potential of integrated strategies,” the note released by Fiocruz reads.
In the article, the researchers also highlight the need to enhance tuberculosis control programs in prison settings by improving screening and access to preventive treatment. Another recommendation involves improving the co-management of cases of co-infection with HIV and diabetes, with increased testing and treatment initiation.
Agência Brasil contacted the Ministry of Health late on Friday afternoon and will update this story when it receives a response.
