Question

Why is tuberculosis not eradicated in our country? Even when BCG is given after birth? What are the causes?

Answer 1

ANSWER.....

How well does the vaccine work?

The BCG vaccine contains a weakened strain of TB bacteria, which builds up immunity and encourages the body to fight TB if infected with it, without causing the disease itself.

The BCG vaccination is thought to protect up to 80% of people against the most severe forms of TB for at least 15 years, perhaps even up to 60 years.

Why is TB still a problem?

It was hoped that with the invention of the BCG vaccine and medicines, it would be possible to wipe out TB in the same way that smallpox has been eradicated.

This has turned out to be difficult because:

• much of the initial improvement in TB rates in more developed countries was related to improvements in housing, nutrition and access to treatment, but these issues are still present in many countries that are less developed

• several strains of TB bacteria have developed resistance to 1 or more anti-TB medications, making them much harder to treat

• the BCG vaccination is effective against severe forms of the disease, such as TB meningitis in children, but it's not as effective against all forms of TB

• the global epidemic of HIV that began in the 1980s has led to a corresponding epidemic of TB cases because HIV weakens a person's immune system, making them more likely to develop a TB infection

• the rapid growth of international travel has helped the infection to spread

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that is caused by a bacterium, which resulted in estimated 10.4 million new cases in 2016 and 1.7 million deaths. Over 90% of TB cases occur in low and middle income countries that have fragile healthcare infrastructures and constrained resources available, and therefore struggle to tackle one of the world’s deadliest communicable diseases.

Answer 2

The BCG vaccine contains a weakened strain of Tuberculosis bacteria, which builds up immunity and encourages the body to fight Tuberculosis if infected with it, without causing the disease itself.

The BCG vaccination is thought to protect up to 80% of people against the most severe forms of Tuberculosis for at least 15 years, perhaps even up to 60 years.

It was hoped that with the invention of the BCG vaccine and medicines, it would be possible to wipe out TB in the same way that smallpox has been eradicated.

This has turned out to be difficult because:

much of the initial improvement in Tuberculosis rates in more developed countries was related to improvements in housing, nutrition and access to treatment, but these issues are still present in many countries that are less developed

several strains of Tuberculosis bacteria have developed resistance to 1 or more anti-Tuberculosis medications, making them much harder to treat

the BCG vaccination is effective against severe forms of the disease, such as Tuberculosis meningitis in children, but it's not as effective against all forms of Tuberculosis

the global epidemic of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) that began in the 1980s has led to a corresponding epidemic of Tuberculosis cases because HIV weakens a person's immune system, making them more likely to develop a Tuberculosis infection

the rapid growth of international travel has helped the infection to spread