PANAJI
Goa has become the first State in the country to shun the over century-old practice of using the sputum microscopy test for initial diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) and adopt a 100 per cent molecular testing in its fight against the disease which has shown signs of a resurgence in the post-Covid period.
The molecular or genetic tests can detect TB within two hours but the microscopy test will still have a role to play in subsequent treatment of the patients.
The strategy is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which has issued a global advisory to use rapid molecular tests for early detection and better accuracy.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane termed it as a "significant step" towards eradicating TB which he said the State aims to do by the end of 2025.
"Goa takes a significant step towards eradicating Tuberculosis by becoming the first State to adopt 100% molecular testing. This modern testing method delivers quicker results compared to the traditional sputum approach. The NTEP Goa is committed to making the State TB-free by 2025, and this innovative testing approach is a crucial stride towards achieving that goal," Rane wrote on 'X' formerly twitter.
TB has shown signs of a rising threat to public health globally post the Covid-19 pandemic and Goa too has recorded increasing cases and deaths in the last three years.
Official data indicates that 6,640 new TB (tuberculosis) patients and 429 deaths were reported between 2020 and now. The data also indicated a new pattern of the 14 to 44 age group being vulnerable.
In 2020, 1,660 TB cases were detected in Goa and 72 people died of the disease while in 2021, there was a steep increase in new cases -- 2,018. Also the deaths caused by the disease also rose to 89 that year.
The next year in 2022, the total number of new patients diagnosed with the disease stayed static but the number of deaths almost doubled to 175.
In the first six months of the current year up to June 30, 871 new TB patients were reported but the trend of high fatalities continues with as many as 93 dying from the disease.
Cough, blood in sputum, chest pain, fever, night sweats, weakness and weight loss are some of the common symptoms of the disease.
The rising trend of TB incidence after decades is being partly blamed in scientific papers on the interruptions to TB-related public health interventions because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Globally, WHO pegs the TB toll in 2021 at 1.6 million with an estimated 10.6 million people contracting the disease.
