The analysis for the tuberculosis situation provides an up-to-date overview of the epidemic, both at regional and national levels. Based on the goals set in the End TB Strategy.
Here, you can explore information related to key indicators, case and notification trends, rapid diagnosis test coverage, treatment, and outcomes.
The data presented in the present report is sourced from the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report, which gathers information provided by countries, enabling the creation of situation profiles across different countries and territories in the Americas region.
Trend in the estimated incidence and number of deaths from TB, and End TB milestones and targets.
The Americas, 2000-2035
Estimated incidence of TB per 100,000 population
Estimated number of TB deaths
Here are provided the key elements that allow visualizing the progress toward the elimination of tuberculosis as a public health issue by 2035. It also offers a comprehensive view of each indicator used to measure and understand the progress in the fight against this disease.
This section illustrates the trend in the notification of new and relapse of tuberculosis cases, in order to help understand its behavior over time, as well as the progress made by countries and the region in identification and reporting.
The use of WHO-recommended rapid tests is crucial in diagnosing TB. This dashboard showcases advances in the coverage of these tests at the regional level and within each country, as well as the increased availability of equipment for molecular testing.
The dashboards dedicated to treatment coverage and outcomes provide a summary of the results of reported cases based on various factors: new and relapse cases, retreatment, TB/HIV, under 15 years, MDR and XDR, and their trends.
SUMMARY
-
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still observed, with an increase in the incidence and mortality of TB in the region.
-
Countries in the region are making significant efforts to increase the diagnosis of people with TB; at the regional level, notification levels prior to the pandemic (2019) have been reached, although it is still estimated that 85,000 people with TB are not being diagnosed or treated.
-
The diagnosis with rapid tests recommended by the WHO has increased from 25% in 2019 to 40% in 2022, although it is still far from the recommended 90%.
-
The coverage of drug sensitivity tests has increased, allowing for the diagnosis of drug-resistant TB cases, but universal access has not been achieved, which represents a challenge for the diagnosis of drug-resistant TB.
-
Coverage of rifampicin sensitivity tests has increased from 44% in 2019 to 59% in 2022, as well as for second-line drugs (fluoroquinolones), from 18% in 2019 to 50% in 2022.
-
-
Treatment outcomes, although with some fluctuations, have not substantially changed in recent years, which means missed opportunities, people who have died, or lost to follow-up.
-
72% of new cases with drug-sensitive TB were cured after treatment.
-
53% in people with TB/HIV coinfection.
-
60% of cases with MDR-TB and 57% in XDR-TB.
-
RECOMMENDATIONS
Urgent actions are required to stop and reverse the increase in TB incidence and deaths, and to accelerate the response towards TB elimination within the framework of the End TB Strategy and the commitments of the new Political Declaration of the 2023 United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB. For this, the following is needed:
Accelerate the implementation of technological tools and innovative interventions recommended by the WHO that can expedite efforts towards elimination:
- Strengthen active TB case finding focused on vulnerable populations and high-transmission areas, using more sensitive tools such as digital radiography with computer-aided detection and molecular rapid tests, enabling early diagnosis and timely treatment initiation.
- Expand the use of new WHO-recommended shorter oral regimens (e.g., 6-month regimens BPaL and BPaLM for drug-resistant TB), and strengthen person-centered support to improve treatment adherence, including community support and digital technologies like video-observed treatment.
- Accelerate the expansion of tuberculosis preventive treatment in contacts of TB patients and other at-risk groups such as people living with HIV, as a key intervention to break the transmission chain and prevent new infections.
-
Strengthen governance and leadership through intensive monitoring, accountability, and a local-level action focus.
-
Accelerate the implementation of digital TB information systems, case-based and interoperable, enabling comprehensive analysis of the TB situation to target resources in priority areas.
-
Optimize resources and seek efficiencies by promoting synergies and interprogram collaboration within the framework of primary healthcare.
-
Advance towards reducing inequities in healthcare access, prioritizing the approach to vulnerable populations and person-centered care.
-
Engage other sectors, including civil society, to address the social determinants impacting individuals with TB and ensure the sustainability of the national TB response through the WHO Multisectoral Accountability Framework for TB.