Almost 28,000 people daily get tuberculosis globally. This disease can be yet prevented and treated. Owing to the global efforts to fight tuberculosis, approximately 63 million lives have been saved since 2000. In Moldova, tuberculosis remains one of the key public health issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of reported cases of tuberculosis declined by 38.7% compared with 2019, IPN reports.
According to the Ministry of Heath, Labor and Social Protection, the incidence of new and old cases of tuberculosis in 2020 was 43.9 per 100,000 people (1,762 cases). For 2019, it was 71.6 per 100,000 people (2,877 cases).
The association of tuberculosis with HIV is a challenge for the efficient control of tuberculosis. The TB/HIV co-infection in 2020 represented 12.4% (219 cases) of the new and old cases of tuberculosis, as opposed to 10.2% in 2019 (295 cases).
Tuberculosis mortality in 2020 was 5.2 per 100,000 people (208 cases), while in 2019 - 6.2 per 100,000 people (248 cases).
In the Republic of Moldova, the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis are free.
Tuberculosis can be presented by vaccination, by ensuring proper hygiene at home, by covering the mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, by avoiding contact with infected persons, smoking and stress and by healthy eating.
Word Tuberculosis Day is annually celebrated on March 24.
