TDR commemorates World TB Day
A summary of recent TDR stories
A dearth of diagnostic tools for childhood TB
New diagnostic tests for tuberculosis (TB) represent a major advance over existing technology. However, the advances also highlight a significant gap in TB research generally: the paucity of diagnostic research for TB in children.
Childhood tuberculosis: addressing a forgotten crisis
Of the 9 million estimated cases of tuberculosis (TB) each year, at least 10 to 15 percent occur in children. Yet the problem is dangerously neglected, because most diagnostic tests are not designed for children.
The magnitude of this neglected public health problem is highlighted in a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine this week by a TDR-led group of experts on paediatric TB.
Commercial TB test alert: TDR research leads to an unusual warning from WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) will be issuing guidelines recommending against the use of serology tests for tuberculosis because they may be doing more harm than good in high-burden countries, according to The Lancet.
TB Specimen bank helps researchers
The new rapid diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) being endorsed by the World Health Organization is an exciting innovation in a field that TDR has been deeply engaged in for decades. In fact, the new technology was developed using the TB Strain Bank established by TDR to support the development and evaluation of new tuberculosis diagnostic tools.
Scientific articles by TDR authors
Resources from others
Full resources on TB at:
- Spotlight on tackling tuberculosis in children: towards a TB-free generation
- New ECDC and WHO joint report on TB: concern about multi drug-resistance and childhood TB
- Tuberculosis quiz for World TB Day now online
- 24-hour concert is back for World TB Day 2011
- The BCG World Atlas: A Database of Global BCG Vaccination Policies and Practices - More Information [Link], [Video]