Commentary: Lessons from the COVID-19 global health response to inform TB case finding

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Date

2021

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a serious threat to global public health, demanding urgent action and causing unprecedented worldwide change in a short space of time. This disease has devastated economies, infringed on individual freedoms, and taken an unprecedented toll on healthcare systems worldwide. As of 1 April 2020, over a million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 204 countries and territories, resulting in more than 51,000 deaths. Yet, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, lies an older, insidious disease with a much greater mortality. Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death by a single infectious agent and remains a potent threat to millions of people around the world. We discuss the differences between the two pandemics at present, consider the potential impact of COVID-19 on TB case management, and explore the opportunities that the COVID-19 response presents for advancing TB prevention and control now and in future.

Description

Keywords

TB case-finding, COVID-19, Access to healthcare, Tuberculosis, Diagnosis and treatment

Citation

Zarowsky, C. et al. (2021). Commentary: Lessons from the COVID-19 global health response to inform TB case finding. Healthcare, 9(2),100487