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A new study has revealed a significant decline in reported tuberculosis (TB) diagnoses within prison populations across Europe and the Americas during the COVID-19 pandemic. This alarming trend, published in The Lancet Public Health, suggests that many TB cases may have gone undetected, posing a serious risk to incarcerated individuals and the wider community.
Researchers from Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) found that reported TB diagnoses plummeted, with Central and North America experiencing a 100% drop in 2021 compared to expected levels, and Western Europe seeing an 87% decrease in 2022. This contrasts sharply with the general population, where TB diagnoses, although initially declining in 2020, began to recover in subsequent years.
The study highlights that incarceration rates remained largely consistent during 2020-2022, indicating that the reduction in reported TB cases was likely due to factors such as reduced capacity for prisons to test and diagnose TB amidst the pandemic.
“When countries are unable to detect tuberculosis in high-risk populations—such as people who are incarcerated—it increases the risk of transmission, both within prisons and to the broader community, when people are released from prison,” stated Amy Zheng, a Ph.D. student at BUSPH and co-lead author of the study.
The researchers analyzed data from 47 countries, representing approximately 42% of the world’s incarcerated population, and found that the 10 countries with the largest percentage decrease in observed versus expected TB diagnoses included Slovakia, Czech Republic, El Salvador, and Ukraine.
The study underscores the vulnerability of incarcerated populations, who are already at a significantly higher risk of developing TB. Undetected and untreated TB can lead to severe health complications and increased transmission.
Furthermore, the study raises concerns about the impact of recent funding cuts to global TB programs, particularly those supported by USAID. Experts warn that these cuts could reverse progress made in combating TB, which remains a leading cause of infectious disease deaths worldwide.
“Recent federal cuts to USAID funding and programming have already significantly impacted tuberculosis control and will severely harm the progress made to reduce tuberculosis globally over the past few decades,” said Dr. Leonardo Martinez, assistant professor of epidemiology at BUSPH and senior author of the study.
The researchers urge governments to prioritize TB screening and diagnosis within prisons and to secure alternative funding mechanisms to achieve global TB elimination goals.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on the provided information and aims to accurately reflect the study’s findings. It should not be taken as medical advice. Readers are advised to consult with healthcare professionals for any health concerns.
