Epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Western Pacific Region: Progress towards the 2020 milestones of the End TB Strategy

Authors

  • Fukushi Morishita End TB and Leprosy Unit, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Kerri Viney Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, Care and Innovation Unit, Global TB Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Centre for Research Excellence in Tuberculosis and the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Chris Lowbridge End TB and Leprosy Unit, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines; Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
  • Hend Elsayed End TB and Leprosy Unit, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Kyung Hyun Oh End TB and Leprosy Unit, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Kalpeshsinh Rahevar End TB and Leprosy Unit, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Ben Marais Centre for Research Excellence in Tuberculosis and the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Tauhid Islam End TB and Leprosy Unit, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2020.11.3.002

Abstract

Since 2015, the End TB Strategy and the Regional Framework for Action on Implementation of the End TB Strategy in the Western Pacific 2016–2020 have guided national tuberculosis (TB) responses in countries and areas of the Region. This paper provides an overview of the TB epidemiological situation in the Western Pacific Region and of progress towards the 2020 milestones of the Strategy. A descriptive analysis was conducted of TB surveillance and programme data reported to WHO and estimates of the TB burden generated by WHO for the period 2000–2018. An estimated 1.8 million people developed TB and 90 000 people died from it in the Region in 2018. Since 2015, the estimated TB incidence rate and the estimated number of TB deaths in the Region decreased by 3% and 10%, with annual reduction rates of 1.0% and 3.4%, respectively. With current efforts, the Region is unlikely to achieve the 2020 milestones and other targets of the Strategy. Major challenges include: (1) wide variation in the geographical distribution and rate of TB incidence among countries; (2) a substantial proportion (23%) of TB cases that remain unreached, undiagnosed or unreported; (3) insufficient coverage of drug susceptibility testing (51%) for bacteriologically confirmed cases and limited use of WHO-recommended rapid diagnostics (11 countries reported < 60% coverage); (4) suboptimal treatment outcomes of TB (60% of countries reported < 85% success), of TB/HIV co-infection (79%) and of multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant TB (59%); (5) limited coverage of TB preventive treatment among people living with HIV (39%) and child contacts (12%); and (6) substantial proportions (35–70%) of TB-affected families facing catastrophic costs. For the Region to stay on track to achieve the End TB Strategy targets, an accelerated multisectoral response to TB is required in every country.

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Published

28-12-2020

How to Cite

1.
Morishita F, Viney K, Lowbridge C, Elsayed H, Oh KH, Rahevar K, Marais B, Islam T. Epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Western Pacific Region: Progress towards the 2020 milestones of the End TB Strategy. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 28 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];11(4):14. Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/806

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Section

Regional Analysis

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