TB Alert and the TB Action Group (TBAG), a network for people affected by TB in the UK, were among 48 NGOs that signed a manifesto calling on the next European Parliament to ensure funding health programmes will be a top priority in EU policies. The Civil Society Manifesto on Global Health also proposed that […]
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New vaccine offers fresh hope in fight against TB
A new tuberculosis vaccine that can help stamp out the disease worldwide has been developed by researchers at McMaster University in Canada The vaccine was produced from a genetically modified version of the cold virus and is intended to function as a booster for the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine which is the only TB vaccine […]
Plan to wipe out tuberculosis in children launched
Health officials have launched a comprehensive plan to end tuberculosis in children worldwide which results in more than 74,000 deaths every year. The Roadmap for Childhood TB: Toward Zero Deaths is a joint effort by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, the STOP TB Partnership and its partners […]
Cost of global TB, AIDS and Malaria inaction: millions of lives lost and $47 billion in treatment expenses
Millions of lives will be lost and and a staggering US$47 billion in treatment costs are expected to be incurred if the funding targets set by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria are not met, according to a report released today. According to the report Cost of Inaction, if the Global Fund […]
TB Alert wins best content award at PHE Conference
TB Alert beat over 700 other entries to win the award for the poster with best content at Public Health England’s 2013 conference. The poster shows how The Truth About TB programme is bringing together statutory agencies, community organisations and people affected by TB to improve TB services and drive down the incidence of the […]
New tests speed up diagnosis of TB drug resistance
Three new diagnostic tests were found to dramatically cut down the time it takes to identify TB drug resistance, potentially saving lives, according to a new study. While traditional drug-susceptibility testing can take between 21 days to three months, the new tests took just between five to 15 days to complete. Researchers from the University […]
Virtual monitoring could boost completion rates of TB treatments
New research shows that “virtually observing” patients taking their prescribed TB medication may be a successful way to help them complete their course of treatment. The virtually observed treatment (VOT) method calls for people to send a short video of themselves taking their medication to their healthcare provider using a mobile phone. VOT could be […]
TB origins traced to early humans, not animals
Human tuberculosis originated about 70,000 years ago and has been traced to hunter-gathering groups in Africa, according to research by an international team of scientists. The study, published in Nature Genetics, goes against the commonly held view that TB began in animals only 10,000 years ago and spread to humans. Dr Ruth McNerney, a lecturer […]
TB Alert is looking for a new Chair
After 15 years in post, Paul Sommerfeld is stepping down as Chair of TB Alert. We are now seeking a new Chair to help our vibrant young organisation grow in the UK and internationally. We want someone who can fill a key leadership role in a dynamic charity that is active in combating a global […]
Tuberculosis costs the EU billions
A new study has shown that TB is costing the European Union €5.9 billion per year, and that’s using conservative calculations. It’s estimated that actual costs could even be twice as high. The study was led by University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel Germany, and involved a systematic review of literature and institutional websites. Researchers considered […]