Patanjali Civil Services Academy

Tuberculosis (TB): WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2026

Tags: Prelims Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Indian Express

Context: WHO released the Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, highlighting progress and challenges in TB elimination.

Global and Indian TB Scenario

India: TB mortality declined by 38% since 2015, against the global reduction of 35%.
Treatment success rate: 94% for drug-susceptible TB patients in India.
Global deaths: 1.13 million people died from TB in 2025.
Disease burden: Around 88% of new TB cases occurred in 30 countries; India accounted for approximately 25%.
Regional distribution of new cases (2025):
- South-East Asia: 35%.
- Western Pacific: 27%.
- Africa: 25%.

Drug-Resistant TB

Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB): TB resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most powerful first-line anti-TB drugs.
Remains a major public health and health security threat.

TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

Progress: Screened over 25 crore individuals between December 2024 and November 2026.
Focuses on early detection, screening and improved access to TB diagnosis and treatment.

Additional Prelims Facts

WHO End TB Strategy: Aims to end the global TB epidemic by 2035.
India's National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP): Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; earlier known as the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP).

Ni-kshay: India's web-enabled platform for TB patient notification, tracking and programme management.

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Tuberculosis (TB):

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) refers to tuberculosis resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin.
Undernutrition and diabetes can increase an individual's risk of developing active tuberculosis.
An individual infected with HIV has a lower risk of developing active tuberculosis due to suppression of inflammatory responses.
Tobacco consumption is a recognised risk factor for developing active tuberculosis.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is Correct: MDR-TB is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the two key first-line anti-TB drugs.
Statement 2 is Correct: Undernutrition and diabetes weaken immune responses and increase vulnerability to active TB.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: HIV weakens the immune system, substantially increasing the risk of developing active TB.
Statement 4 is Correct: Tobacco use increases the risk of TB infection progressing to active disease and is associated with poorer treatment outcomes.