Tuberculosis outbreaks in schools: Experiences from the Western Pacific Region

Authors

  • Kalpeshsinh Rahevar End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Tracy Yuen End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Kyung Hyun Oh End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Seiya Kato Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
  • Yuhong Liu National Clinical Center on Tuberculosis, Beijing, China
  • Zhang Lijie National Clinical Center on Tuberculosis, Beijing, China
  • Jingtao Gao National Clinical Center on Tuberculosis, Beijing, China
  • Liang Li National Clinical Center on Tuberculosis, Beijing, China
  • Zi Chen Department of International Cooperation, Innovation Alliance on TB Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing, China
  • Cheon Tae Kim Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • Sarankhuu Amarzaya Ministry of Health and National Center for Communicable Disease, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  • Fukushi Morishita End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Tauhid Islam End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2020.11.3.005

Abstract

Reports of tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks among schoolchildren have increased in recent years in countries across the Western Pacific Region. Cases from China, Japan, Mongolia and the Republic of Korea were studied to derive lessons from the challenges and responses to TB outbreaks in schools. Despite differences in the TB burden and outbreak preparedness, the four countries reported similar challenges. These included delayed diagnosis of index cases, lack of experienced health professionals and sustained financial support, and difficulty in responding to intensified media and community attention. Early detection of outbreaks, established resource mobilization networks, coordination among stakeholders and proactive communication were highlights of successful outbreak responses. These principles could be adapted to each context for responses to future TB outbreaks in schools.

Author Biographies

Kalpeshsinh Rahevar, End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines

Medical Officer- TB and Leprosy

End TB and Leprosy Unit

Division of Programmes of Disease Control

WHO Western Pacific Region 

Tracy Yuen, End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines

Medical Officer- TB and Leprosy

End TB and Leprosy Unit

Division of Programmes of Disease Control

WHO WPRO

Kyung Hyun Oh, End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines

Technical Officer

End TB and Leprosy Unit

Division of Programmes of Disease Control

WHO WPRO

Seiya Kato, Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan

Director

Research Institute of Tuberculosis- Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association

Sarankhuu Amarzaya, Ministry of Health and National Center for Communicable Disease, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Technical officer, Ministry of Health Mongolia

Fukushi Morishita, End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines

Technical Officer

End TB and Leprosy Unit

Division of Programmes of Disease Control

WHO WPRO

Tauhid Islam, End TB and Leprosy Unit, Division of Programmes of Disease Control, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines

Coordinator

End TB and Leprosy Unit

Division of Programmes of Disease Control

WHO WPRO

References

Kerri Viney, Scientist, Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, Care and Innovation Unit, Global TB Programme, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland (vineyk@who.int)

Professor Ben J Marais, Infectious Diseases Clinician, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Co-Director, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity (MBI),

University of Sydney, Australia (ben.marais@health.nsw.gov.au)

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Published

25-01-2021

How to Cite

1.
Rahevar K, Yuen T, Oh KH, Kato S, Liu Y, Lijie Z, Gao J, Li L, Chen Z, Kim CT, Amarzaya S, Morishita F, Islam T. Tuberculosis outbreaks in schools: Experiences from the Western Pacific Region. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2021 Jan. 25 [cited 2026 Mar. 21];12(1). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/820

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2021): January ‒ March

Section

Case Report / Case Series

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