Feasibility of achieving the 2025 WHO global tuberculosis targets in South Africa, China, and India

Houben, R.M., Menzies, N.A., Sumner, T., Huynh, G.H., Arinaminpathy, N., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J.D., Lin, H.H., Wu, C.Y., Mandal, S., Pandey, S. and Suen, S.C., 2016. Feasibility of achieving the 2025 WHO global tuberculosis targets in South Africa, China, and India: a combined analysis of 11 mathematical models. The Lancet Global Health, 4(11), pp.e806-e815.

Aggressive scaling of a single intervention is not enough to meet the post-2015 End TB Strategy targets globally.

In South Africa:

• A combination of targeted interventions could substantially reduce tuberculosis:
  • Continuous isoniazid preventive therapy for individuals on antiretroviral therapy.
  • Expanded facility-based screening for tuberculosis symptoms at health centers.
  • Enhanced tuberculosis care.
• Using these interventions, significant reductions in tuberculosis are feasible, and meeting the 2025 targets is possible.

For other high-burden countries like China and India, additional country-specific interventions are required:

• In China, addressing latent tuberculosis in the elderly.
• In India, combating undernutrition to help reach the global tuberculosis targets.