The Ministry of Health, Kenya, has embarked on a new, robust approach to evaluate evidence for informing the next National Strategic Plan on Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Health (2019-2023). A workshop, convened from April 17- 19 2018, reviewed consolidated national data and incorporated the extensive evidence base of critical studies and surveys on the TB situation. This was done to identify root causes of the epidemic, establish priorities and map out future actions.

On 10 May 2018, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution on Drug-resistant tuberculosis in Europe. The resolution will go to all 47 Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe countries this summer (before the UN High-Level Meeting on TB).

EASTERN UKRAINE, 17 May 2018 — Nearly 3.5 million people caught up in the conflict in eastern Ukraine urgently need humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations, which says its assistance program has received a fraction of the funding it needs.

New research in mice suggests that chronic infection with intestinal worms indirectly reduces the number of cells in lymph nodes near the skin, inhibiting the immune system's response to the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine for tuberculosis. Xiaogang Feng of Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues present these findings in PLOS Pathogens.

The state of the national TB response in India.

Historically, our view of host defense against infection was that we must eliminate pathogens to eradicate disease. However, this perspective has recently been challenged as scientists have taken a lesson from plant biologists about an ancient strategy involving the ability to “tolerate” rather than “resist” infection to maintain health. This concept, referred to as “disease tolerance”, provides an opportunity to develop new strategies that mitigate the consequences of infection.

The Stop TB Partnership released its April newsletter.

The pediatric population is one that relies primarily on adults for health advocacy and care, and as such, their protection and medical treatment is an ethical as well as a scientific mandate. Yet despite global improvements in research and disease control, the risk, burden and mortality associated with pediatric infectious diseases remain considerable. “Diseases of poverty,” such as tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS, continue to take a toll on children in the world’s poorest countries.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s “Voices”: Spreading Ideas to Help End TB