‘Truly transformative’ new diagnostic tools can help end tuberculosis

The World Health Organization (WHO) called on Tuesday for countries to step up action to end tuberculosis (TB) – one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers – by expanding access to new diagnostic tools. TB kills over 3,300 people daily, with Southeast Asia accounting for nearly 40 per cent of deaths. WHO has issued new guidelines recommending innovations such as near-point-of-care molecular diagnostic tests and tongue swabs. These tests cost half the price of current options, operate on battery power, and deliver results in less than an hour. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated these tools could be 'truly transformative' by bringing fast diagnosis closer to people. However, the agency warned that global funding cuts are putting these gains at risk, with research funding far below the needed $5 billion annually.