UN / TB REPORT

The WHO reports for the first time that the number of people falling ill with tuberculosis (TB) each year is declining. New data, published today in the WHO 2011 Global Tuberculosis Control Report, also show that the number of people dying from the disease fell to its lowest level in a decade. Yet, current progress is at risk from under-funding, especially efforts to combat drug-resistant TB. WHO / FILE

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:48
• Production Date: 11 October 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO
• Subject Topical: HEALTH; DISEASE PREVENTION; DISEASE CONTROL; DISEASES
• MAMS Id: U111011a

Description

STORY: UN / TB REPORT
TRT: 1.48
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 5 OCTOBER, 2011 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1.Zoom out, WHO Headquarters
2.Pan left, Dr. Mario Raviglione walks to a display counter and picks up a copy of the report
3.Close up, Dr. Mario Raviglione browsing report
4.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director, Stop TB Department, World Health Organization (WHO):
“This Global TB Report reflects a milestone in public health and in development. For the first time the World Health Organization reports a drop in the number of cases as well as sustained decline in the number of deaths due to Tuberculosis, which is due really to the major investments that are being made by countries as well as by the international community. So, it’s the right time now to consolidate, to push further and not to give up.”
5.Close up, Dr. Mario Raviglione holding the report
6.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director, Stop TB Department, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Challenges remain in global TB control in reaching out to all people affected by Tuberculosis. In the African continent we have a serious problem of TB associated with AIDS. We need to intensify much more the efforts that are being conducted in that continent, which are remarkable, but not sufficient. And in the area of multi drug resistance TB, a form of TB that resists the most powerful antibiotics. Only today 16 percent, or one out of six people affected by this form of TB get proper treatment.”

FILE – RECENT, UNKNOWN LOCATION

7.Various shots, TB testing

2009, BEIJING CHEST HOSPITAL, CHINA

8.Med shot, chest X-rays
9.Med, doctor in lab

Storyline

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports for the first time that the number of people falling ill with tuberculosis (TB) each year is declining. New data, published today (11 October) in the WHO 2011 Global Tuberculosis Control Report, also show that the number of people dying from the disease fell to its lowest level in a decade. Yet, current progress is at risk from under-funding, especially efforts to combat drug-resistant TB.

SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director, Stop TB Department, World Health Organization (WHO):
“This Global TB Report reflects a milestone in public health and in development. For the first time the World Health Organization reports a drop in the number of cases as well as sustained decline in the number of deaths due to Tuberculosis, which is due really to the major investments that are being made by countries as well as by the international community. So, it’s the right time now to consolidate, to push further and not to give up.”

People living with HIV, who are also infected with the bacteria causing TB, are up to 34 times more likely to develop TB disease. Progress has been made in addressing the TB/HIV co-epidemic, with coverage of testing for HIV rising to 59% of TB patients in Africa. But further commitment is needed if the region is to meet key 2015 TB targets.

Treating multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains one of the most under-funded areas. While the number of MDR-TB patients treated increased to 46,000 in 2010 – this is just 16% of the estimated number of MDR-TB patients that needed treatment.

SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director, Stop TB Department, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Challenges remain in global TB control in reaching out to all people affected by Tuberculosis. In the African continent we have a serious problem of TB associated with AIDS. We need to intensify much more the efforts that are being conducted in that continent, which are remarkable, but not sufficient. And in the area of multi drug resistance TB, a form of TB that resists the most powerful antibiotics. Only today 16 percent, or one out of six people affected by this form of TB get proper treatment.”

The new report finds that the number of people who fell ill with TB dropped to 8.8 million in 2010, after peaking at 9 million in 2005. TB deaths fell to 1.4 million in 2010, after reaching 1.8 million in 2003.

Among these countries are Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. In these African countries, the burden of TB is estimated to have been declining for much of the last decade after a peak linked to the HIV epidemic. Brazil has reported a significant and sustained decline in its TB burden since 1990.

In China the progress has been dramatic. Between 1990 and 2010, China's TB death rate fell by almost 80 percent, with deaths falling from 216,000 in 1990, to 55,000 in 2010. In the same period, TB prevalence halved, from 215 to 108 per 100,000 population.