Tuberculosis incidence, mortality rates in China drop 30 percent from 2012

BEIJING -- The incidence and mortality rates of tuberculosis (TB) in China have dropped 30 percent from the figures in 2012, according to a 2024-2030 national plan for TB prevention and treatment.

The country has successfully identified and treated around 7.85 million cases of pulmonary TB since 2012, maintaining a successful treatment rate above 90 percent and a relatively low mortality rate, said the document released on Thursday by nine departments including the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration.

Despite the progress, the situation remains challenging, with approximately 10 percent of counties and urban districts across China still considered high-prevalence areas, the document said.

It highlighted an uneven distribution of prevention and control efforts, a need for improved active detection and standardized management of patients, and room for enhancing preventive measures and adopting new technologies.

China aims to keep the incidence rate of TB below 50 new cases out of a population of 100,000 in 2025, with the rate falling below 43 out of 100,000 in 2030, according to the plan.

To realize this goal, the country plans to adopt comprehensive measures in screening, treatment, prevention and awareness raising, the document said.

Efforts to intensify screening will be made, targeting close contacts of TB patients, HIV-infected individuals, previously-diagnosed TB patients, the elderly and diabetic patients.

Institutions such as schools, detention centers, social-welfare agencies, rescue-and-protection facilities for minors, psychiatric hospitals, and enterprises will include TB checks in their routine health examinations.

With prevention considered a cornerstone of TB control, the country will continue providing BCG vaccination for eligible children and will ensure vaccine efficacy.

Infection control measures will be reinforced, including regulations to ensure infectious TB patients stop working and are suspended from school. Patients will be better educated on personal protective measures and prevention of household transmission.

More specialized clinics will be established for medical intervention for people infected with TB bacteria but free of disease, and offering preventive therapies to reduce the risk of developing TB disease, according to the plan.

TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, but those who are infected but free of disease cannot transmit it.

According to the World Health Organization, a total of 1.25 million people died from TB in 2023 across the world.