TB still lingering in Belgium and more resistant to treatment

Tuberculosis, an infectious disease once thought to be on the road to eradication, continues to hang on in Belgium and is becoming more resistant to treatment. The warning was issued by the federal Scientific Institute for Public Health (WIV) to mark World Tuberculosis Day, which is today.

In 2013, there were nearly 9 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, largely concentrated in larger cities like Brussels, Antwerp and Liège. Conditions in largely urban areas lead to a faster spread of the disease: a concentration of at-risk populations and a high population density.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria (stained red in the photo). It was formerly known as consumption because of the way the common pulmonary version causes dramatic weight loss. There are about nine million new cases discovered worldwide every year, with 1.5 million deaths.

The BCG vaccine offers a high level of protection to children but is not effective in adults with a latent TB infection ; people in perfect health may be carriers of the bacteria, held at bay by their own immune system for as long as it is able.

“Various factors such as stress, ageing, unhealthy diet, excess alcohol consumption and HIV can weaken the immune system,” explained Kris Huygen, head of immunology at WIV. “A latent TB infection can become active under the influence of these factors.”

The institute is calling for work on the development of new vaccines designed to prevent infection and stop the development of the disease. WIV forms part of a Europe-wide research programme involving 40 institutes and is currently working on the latest generation of vaccines.

Meanwhile, the bacteria is becoming more resistant to antibiotics, with the appearance of ultra-resistant strains. The institute is researching the efficiency of new molecules derived from two existing antibiotics used to treat TB.

photo courtesy CDC