Thailand intensifies fight against XDR-TB, targeting eradication by 2030

The battle against drug-resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is escalating in Thailand, as the Public Health Ministry pushes towards its objective of wiping out the disease by the conclusion of this decade.

Dr Cholnan Srikaew, the Public Health Minister, conveyed particulars yesterday about XDR-TB discussed during a meeting of the National Communicable Disease Committee. The committee consented to update the definition of XDR-TB, as it was revealed that additional drugs have proven ineffective against the disease.

Dr Cholnan believes this modification of the XDR-TB definition will aid in diagnosing and treating the disease, aligning with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations.

“Even though the number of tuberculosis cases has dropped significantly compared to the past, our goal has not met the targeted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) where tuberculosis must end before 2030.”

The committee also approved enhancing health checkpoints at the Thai-Malay border, specifically the Tam Malang Pier and Wang Prachan Boundary Post located in Satun province, reported Bangkok Post.

Dr Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn of the Department of Medical Services noted that XDR-TB cases are predominantly found along border regions.

“If XDR-TB patients are not hospitalised and quarantined, likely, they won’t likely complete their medications, resulting in even stronger drug resistance. They mostly need to spend 20 days in quarantine at the hospital until the disease is confirmed gone.”

The new definition of XDR-TB will empower public health officials to quarantine individuals from neighbouring countries and enlist them in Thailand’s public health system until their full recovery, Dr Thongchai further added.

The Thailand National Vaccine Institute (NVI) has partnered with the US Vaccine Research Center (VRC) to jointly develop tuberculosis vaccines, including those utilizing Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. This collaboration was announced after senior officials from Thailand’s Public Health Ministry visited the VRC on April 20. Read more HERE.

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