Summer 2021 Publication

policies enacted to limit the spread of the
current COVID-19 pandemic, including
lockdowns, reassignment of resources,
healthcare staff, and equipment. The
World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that a 3-month lockdown
followed by a 10-to 12-month recovery
phase will result in a huge increase in TB
cases, with 6.3 million new cases and 1.4
million TB fatalities registered between
2020 and 2025. According to the
modeling studies, the COVID-19 pandemic
is expected to lead to a 25% reduction
globally in expected TB detection for a 3-
month time span, given the levels of TB
service disruption seen in several
countries. Consequently, we can expect a
13% increase in TB deaths, thus sending
us back to the levels of TB mortality seen
5 years ago [7]. This could possibly be a
conservative estimate because it excludes
other potential pandemic effects, such as
the transmission of TB, disruptions in
treatment, and worse prognosis in
patients with TB and COVID-19 infection.
As a result, an additional 1.4 million TB
deaths could be recorded between 2020
and 2025 [8]. All measures should
therefore be taken to ensure continuity of
care so that patients who require TB
treatment, both preventative and
curative, have access to services.
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W, Song ZG, et al. A new coronavirus
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[4] Meyerowitz EA, Richterman A,
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DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link.
[5] D. Visca, C.W.M. Ong, S. Tiberi, R.
Centis, et al. Tuberculosis and COVID-19
interaction: A review of biological,
clinical and public health effects.
Pulmonology. 2021 (Vol 27, Issue 2, Pages
151-165).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pulmoe.2020.12.
012.
(Image Credit: DW)
Khundi, M., Dodd, P., Ku, C., Kawalazira,
G., Choko, A., Divala, T., Corbett, E.,
MacPherson, P. (2021). Effects of
Coronavirus Disease Pandemic on
Tuberculosis Notifications, Malawi.
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(7), 1831-
1839.
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2707.210557.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(Image Credit: eMedicineHealth)
References
[1] WHO. 2019. Global tuberculosis
report. World Health Organization,
Geneva,
Switzerland
https://www.who.int/tb/publications/glo
bal_report/en/.
[6] Mousquer, G. T., Peres, A., &
Fiegenbaum, M. (2021). Pathology of
TB/COVID-19 Co-Infection: The phantom
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Scotland), 126, 102020.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2020.1020
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Pretorius C, Ahmedov S, Nair SA,
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[8] Soko, R., Burke, R. M., Feasey, H.,
Sibande, W., Nliwasa, M., Henrion, M.,
Adwaith Hariharan is a junior at
Biotechnology High School in New
Jersey. He is interested in the
intersection of technology, sciences,
and social entrepreneurship. This drive
has him giving back to his community
through research involving AI, Machine
Learning, and health analytics. As a
STEM DEI advocate, he strives to create
and lead STEM conferences, hackathons,
and science camps to empower
youth, underprivileged, and neurodivergent
students around the world.
22| SUMMER 2021