By our correspondent
KARACHI: Tuberculosis (TB) should no longer be viewed as a disease to be managed but one that must be eliminated, leading health experts said at a regional conference in Bangkok, warning that it remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases and continues to spread silently.
Speaking at the APAC-IRIDS conference, organised by Roche in collaboration with the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), specialists said TB is transmitted easily from person to person and often remains undetected for long periods, allowing the disease to spread before symptoms appear.
The conference brought together leading medical experts from across the Asia-Pacific region, including Dr Kaneez Fatima of Pakistan, Dr Subramanian Swaminathan of India, Dr Erlina Burhan of Indonesia, Dr Rogaya W. Calapas of the Philippines and Roche director Sergio Carmona.
The speakers stressed that while efforts to control TB must continue, governments and health authorities should now focus on eliminating the disease altogether. They described TB as a greater long-term public health challenge than Covid-19 because of its silent transmission and the fact that many people remain unaware they are infected until the disease has progressed.
Experts also warned that climate change could worsen the situation. Rising global temperatures and shifting weather patterns may strengthen disease-causing microbes, increasing the risk of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis.
They urged people not to ignore a persistent cough, saying anyone with ongoing symptoms should seek medical advice promptly, as early diagnosis is essential to preventing further transmission.
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