Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tuberculosis Control: An Overview.

Kefyalew Addis Alene,Archie C A Clements,Kinley Wangdi

doi:10.3390/tropicalmed5030123

Abstract

Throughout history, pandemics of viral infections such as HIV, Ebola and Influenza have disrupted health care systems, including the prevention and control of endemic diseases. Such disruption has resulted in an increased burden of endemic diseases in post-pandemic periods. The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could cause severe dysfunction in the prevention and control of tuberculosis (TB), the infectious disease that causes more deaths than any other, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of TB is high. The economic and health crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the public health measures currently taken to stop the spread of the virus may have an impact on household TB transmission, treatment and diagnostic services, and TB prevention and control programs. Here, we provide an overview of the potential impact of COVID-19 on TB programs and disease burden, as well as possible strategies that could help to mitigate the impact.

Highlights

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest endemic diseases affecting humanity, but it remains a significant global public health problem today [1,2]
Given the high levels of global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to consider the potential impact on the control and prevention of common endemic diseases that might be even more devastating to human health than COVID-19 itself
The health and economic crisis created by the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the public health measures taken to stop the spread of the virus, could have a potential impact on TB prevention and control in many different ways

Summary

Historical Perspective

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest endemic diseases affecting humanity, but it remains a significant global public health problem today [1,2]. Given the high levels of global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to consider the potential impact on the control and prevention of common endemic diseases that might be even more devastating to human health than COVID-19 itself. Epidemiology: TB has long been the leading cause of death due to an infectious disease globally, killing more than 1.5 million people, and with an estimated 10 million new cases in 2018 [20]. The common measures taken by countries to prevent the transmission of the disease include early case detection; prompt isolation of confirmed patients; contact tracing and quarantine of all contacts during the incubation period; social distancing; and communitywide containment, including closure of schools and public facilities, maintaining good hand hygiene through regular washing and use of sanitizers, and wearing of personal protective equipment [33,34]. While there are some vaccine trials under development, there is no evidence that any existing vaccine, including the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine (BCG), protects people against infection with COVID-19 virus

The Potential Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tuberculosis Control

Possible Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19 on TB Control

Findings

Conclusions