CNS: [CNS Live eConversation] It's TIME to end latent TB too!

[Watch video recording] [Listen or download podcast] Between a quarter and a third of the world’s population are estimated to be infected with latent tuberculosis (TB). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), on average, 5-10% of those who are infected with latent TB, will develop active TB disease over their lifetime. Because “reactivated” TB is contagious, eradicating latent infection is a cornerstone of global TB control and achieving a better understanding of latent infection is deemed a research priority (read more).

Every case of active TB disease comes from an individual with latent TB infection. And every new case of latent TB infection is a sign of failing infection control, as someone with active TB disease transmitted the bacteria to an uninfected person.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), persons with latent TB infection do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms. They are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but do not have TB disease. Persons with latent TB infection are not infectious and cannot spread TB infection to others. Overall, without treatment, about 5 to 10% of infected persons will develop TB disease at some time in their lives. Also studies show that poorly controlled diabetes increases risk of latent TB.

Kerala state of India, has committed to eliminate latent TB too as part of its efforts to end TB.

In lead up to 2019 World TB Day, let's listen to experts from Kerala, and other district, state, national TB programme experts on how can we accelerate progress towards eliminating latent TB as well, as an integral crusade to end TB by 2030 (India has committed to end TB By 2025).

Tuesday, 19th March 2019

12 noon to 1 pm Geneva time

(Check your local time)

Watch recording | Listen to podcast

Panel of experts

Dr Shibu Balakrishnan, TB expert from RNTCP Kerala, India
Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, head of Vietnam's national TB programme
Dr Shibu Vijayan, acting Global TB Technical Director at PATH
Dr RK Sood, District TB Officer, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Dr Erlina Burhan, Head of TB DOTS and MDR-TB Persahabatan Hospital, Indonesia and member, Board of Directors, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)
Moderator: Shobha Shukla, Executive Director and Managing Editor, CNS

This CNS Live eConversation session will be LIVE streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

Watch recording | Listen to podcast