The observance of World Tuberculosis or (TB) Day will be on Wednesday 24th March 2021.This year’s theme is “The clock is ticking.” The sentiments expressed by this year’s theme indicates that global leaders are running out of time to act on their commitments to end the TB epidemic. It further seeks to ensure equitable access to prevention and care, which is in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) thrust towards achieving universal health coverage. The day was created to raise public awareness concerning the overwhelming health, social and economic consequences of TB and initiate efforts to end the global TB epidemic. 

 The aforementioned date symbolises the day in 1882, when the pronouncement “Healthy People” was made by Dr Robert Koch. He had discovered the bacterium that caused TB and his announcement paved the way towards diagnosing and curing the disease. Tuberculosis or TB is caused by a bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is a treatable airborne disease which normally affects the lungs (pulmonary TB). The bacterium can also affect other areas of the body such as the bone. This is known as Potts Disease (extrapulmonary TB). 

There are two types of TB infection: active TB or inactive, also known as latent TB. There is also drug resistant TB, which occurs when the drug used fails to kill all of the bacteria and the surviving bacteria develops a resistance to the standard antibiotic TB therapy. A person with active TB can display symptoms such as weakness, weight loss, fever, and in some cases, bloody coughs. Someone with latent or inactive TB infection, does not get sick or display any symptoms and is incapable of passing the germ to another human being. In the case of active TB, the germ is easily spread when someone coughs, sings or speaks and that contaminated air is released into the atmosphere. The risk of contracting TB increases where there is overcrowding and poor ventilation. 

 TB rarely affects normal, healthy individuals since a healthy immune system can successfully fight the bacteria. But there are those who fall in high-risk categories to include: Children below the age of 5 years, Persons living with Diabetes, alcohol and drug abusers, smokers, Persons living with HIV, as well as those with other health related issues that compromise the immune system. Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that in 2019, 1.4million persons died from TB; 208,000 of which were HIV positive, 10 million fell ill with TB worldwide in 2019, 5.6 were men, 3.2 were women while children accounted for 1.2 million. A blood or skin test can be used to confirm or rule out latent or active TB. Once a person has been diagnosed with active TB disease in Antigua & Barbuda, treatment begins immediately. In most cases, a person can be hospitalized for four to six weeks and the treatment period may last as much as nine months before that person is fully recovered. After a TB positive person is discharged from hospital, he or she remains in the care of a health care provider, who then applies the directly observed therapy or DOT until that person is declared free of TB. A skin test (the Mantoux test) is the only method currently in use as a screening test in Antigua& Barbuda. Chest X-Ray and sputum testing confirm diagnosis. In 2019, there were two active cases of TB. Both cases were successfully treated. Currently, there are two active cases of TB infection in Antigua & Barbuda. We are hopeful that these cases will also have a successful recovery and urge them to continue doing all within their power to fight that deadly infection. For those embracing healthy lifestyles within our nation, do continue to preserve good health. Always remember, “Your health is an investment, not expense.” 

Sharon Adams, Public Relations Officer, assisted by Nurse Andrea Shepherd Lewis epidemiologist and Dr. Oritta Zachariah, Medical Officer of Health