New Delhi: In a move that could be crucial in eradicating tuberculosis, ICMRThe apex TB research institute is planning to start bcg Booster testing among children and adolescents aged 6-18 years to test whether re-vaccination can help prevent the spread of tuberculosis to household contacts of TB patients. The health ministry is likely to discuss the funding proposal for the study on Tuesday.
“This is to assess whether re-vaccination with BCG vaccine can protect someone from developing TB when exposed to the disease. The study will be conducted at multiple sites in approximately eight centers with approximately 9,000 participants,” National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis Director Dr. Padmapriyadarshini C said.
He said those participating in the trial would be closely monitored for two years.
While scientific approvals are in place, the institute is awaiting final approval for funding the project from the Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health. Once the final go ahead, the institute is planning to start the studies by August.
While the BCG vaccine is one of the world’s most commonly used vaccines to reduce the risk of natural tuberculosis infection, this study assumes significance because it has not yet been established whether BCG re-vaccination can prevent TB in household contacts. can help prevent disease.
India saw a rapid 19% increase in tuberculosis cases in 2021 over the previous year, even as the vast majority of 64% of the symptomatic population surveyed sought health services between 2019 and 2021. Didn’t. India TB Report 2022 and national TB prevalence Survey shows.
A total of 19.3 lakh new and relapsed TB patients were notified in 2021, compared to 16.3 lakh TB patients notified last year. Deaths due to TB, excluding HIV patients, also increased to 4.9 lakh in 2020, a 13% increase from a year ago, while mortality due to all forms of TB fell by 11% between 2019 and 2020. has increased.