Journal of Preventive Medicine

Preventing Tuberculosis: The WHO Way

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of chronicity with a high prevalence worldwide. The bacterial agent causing TB is an aerobic, non-capsulated, non-motile, and non-spore-forming strain of Mycobacteria, commonly referred to as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one-third of the world’s population is estimated to be infected with TB, with most cases reported in the developing countries owing to increased poverty, starvation, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among others. A total of 22 countries have been listed as significantly affected by TB over the years. TB primarily affects children alone, but TB is preventable. The WHO has developed guidelines and operational handbooks for increased treatment coverage in countries. The WHO supports countries worldwide in preventing TB infections through guidance and implementation of infection prevention and control measures. In this article, we shall discuss the various measures advised by the WHO for preventing TB.

Author(s):

Lalitha Venkateswaran

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