Rep. Engel Supports World Health Organization Global Tuberculosis Control Report

Press Release

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) gave his strong endorsement to the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) to control tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, at a news conference Tuesday to unveil the WHO's 2009 Global Tuberculosis Control Report Update.

Tuberculosis is one of the world's biggest killers, second only to HIV in the number of deaths from an infectious disease. However, according to the WHO, 36 million people with TB have been cured over the last 15 years due to its treatment efforts. In addition, eight million lives were saved over the same span of time, indicating the Directly Observed Short Course Treatment (DOTS)/Stop TB Strategy has been the best and most cost-effective fight against the disease.

"As the author of the Stop Tuberculosis Now Act, which was included in last year's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reauthorization, I know how dangerous the global threat of Tuberculosis is to people everywhere. One-third of the world's population is infected with the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, and 1.8 million people die each year from the disease. TB is the leading global killer of women of reproductive age, ahead of HIV, heart disease and war. It is truly reprehensible that we allow so many to die each year of a preventable and treatable disease. The World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis Control Report will provide useful information for policy makers and public health advocates alike," said Rep. Engel.

"The United States made a significant $4 billion investment in tuberculosis control last year in the Lantos-Hyde PEPFAR reauthorization. We must be absolutely vigilant to ensure that the commitments authorized in the bill are fulfilled," added the 11-term Congressman.

The WHO update noted that 1.4 million TB patients were tested for HIV in 2007-08, an increase of 200,000 from the previous numbers. Of those testing positive, one-third received life-saving HIV anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Half a million of the 1.8 million TB-related deaths were from HIV causes, with many of them were not enrolled on ART.

Of the 9.4 million TB cases in 2008 -- including 1.4 million TB/HIV cases -- 3.6 million women were afflicted.

"As outlined by the WHO report, we have come a long way in treating TB. It is also clear that we have a long way to go before we can end the worldwide suffering. The current diagnostic, treatment and prevention tools that we have to combat TB are antiquated. The current TB vaccine is over 85 years old and is unreliable against pulmonary TB, which accounts for most of the worldwide disease burden. We will never defeat TB without a new and effective vaccine.

"I will continue to work hard in Congress to increase awareness and research in the United States, and I encourage our colleagues around the world to do the same," said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee.

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