Why in the news?

  • As per the recent Global TB Report  2025 published shows tuberculosis incidence is falling in India by 21% a year.

Tuberculosis

  • Cause: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
  • Affecting Body Part: Primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can infect brain, kidneys, bones (extrapulmonary TB).
  • Symptoms
    • Persistent cough >2–3 weeks.
    • Fever, night sweats.
    • Weight loss, fatigue.
    • Chest pain, coughing blood (hemoptysis).
  • Transmission: Spread through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  • Test to Detect
    • Sputum smear microscopy (Ziehl-Neelsen staining).
    • Culture (gold standard).
    • CBNAAT/NAAT (e.g., GeneXpert, TrueNat) – detects MTB + Rifampicin resistance.
    • Line Probe Assay (LPA).
    • Mantoux test / Tuberculin Skin Test (TST).
  • Treatment: TB is a treatable and curable disease. It is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer.

Findings of the WHO Global TB Report 2025 About India

  • TB incidence in India declined by 21%
    • From 237 per lakh (2015) → 187 per lakh (2024).
    • This is nearly double the global decline (12%).
  • One of the highest declines globally, outperforming other high-burden countries.
    • TB mortality rate reduced: From 28 per lakh (2015) → 21 per lakh (2024).
  • Causes for Decline
    • Innovations & Technology
      • Rapid uptake of new diagnostic tools (CBNAAT, TrueNat, digital X-rays, AI-based detection).
      • Decentralisation: Expanded diagnostic & treatment centres to district and sub-district levels.
    • Community Mobilisation
      • Large-scale campaigns under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
      • Strengthened community-led screening, awareness, and treatment adherence support.
    • Enhanced Case Detection
      • 26.18 lakh TB patients diagnosed in 2024, out of estimated 27 lakh cases.
        Treatment coverage rose to 92% in 2024 (up from 53% in 2015).
  • Reduction in “Missing Cases”
    • Missing cases = Individuals who have TB but are not notified to national programme.
    • Missing cases fell from: 15 lakh (2015) → <1 lakh (2024).
    • Indicates better surveillance, reporting & program reach.
  • Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB)
    • No significant increase in MDR-TB cases.
    • India maintaining stable drug resistance levels despite higher detection.
  • Reason For Decline: TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
    • Achievements 
      • 19 crore vulnerable individuals screened nationwide.
      • 24.5 lakh TB patients detected, including: 8.61 lakh asymptomatic TB cases.
      • Treatment success rate: 90%, higher than global average (88%).
    • Core Strategies
      • Active case finding drives.
      • Door-to-door screening in high-burden districts.
      • Social support, nutritional assistance (Nikshay Poshan Yojana).
      • Private sector notification through Nikshay Portal.

 

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