Tackling the challenges of tuberculosis in South Africa
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health threat. In 2023, more than 10 million people fell ill with TB, causing 1.25 million deaths annually. South Africa carries one of the highest burdens globally with an estimated 270 000 people developing TB in 2023. Effectively diagnosing and treating TB is complex, with many factors at play.  Researchers at the University of Cape Town's (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences are working to tackle TB on many fronts. To commemorate World TB Day, we spotlight a few examples of cutting-edge TB research at UCT.
The TB pandemic in South Africa is compounded by several problems, including high levels of co-morbidity with both HIV and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, which complicate the treatment of TB. Additionally, the strain on the healthcare system makes providing adequate care for TB patients challenging, and the rise of drug-resistant TB is more difficult to treat.
Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged approach, one of which is the development and testing of drugs to treat TB more effectively and in a shorter period. Promising research at UCT includes the use of gene-editing technology, efforts to accelerate the discovery and testing of new TB drugs, and strategies to prevent relapse in patients who have already been treated and considered cured.