Tuberculosis (TB)

No national TB prevalence survey has ever been conducted in South Sudan. The TB epidemiological status and trends are based on WHO modelling. TB case notification increased from 10,478 in 2016 to 14,371 in 2018 across 95 functional TB management units. TB treatment coverage (notified/estimated incidence) in 2017 was 56%, up from 54% in 2015 (WHO).

Programmatic management of drug resistant TB in South Sudan began only in 2017 pilot phase. In 2017 and 2018, there were 15 and 53 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) cases notified, respectively, out of which 12 (80%) and 28 (53%) were enrolled on treatment.

Progress Made

Achievement	Area of improvement
14,371	TB cases notified in 2018
82%	TB Treatment success rate in 2016 (increased from 72% in 2014)
13%	TB/HIV Mortality figures in 2016 (increased from 6.6%)

Improvements in TB service availability and treatment: The number of health facilities providing TB services (diagnostic and treatment centers) increased from 32 in 2006 to 95 in 2018. TB treatment coverage (notified/estimated incidence) was 56% in 2017, up from 54% in 2015.

As part of improved HIV/TB collaboration, TB testing and initiation to treatment for co-infected patients increased from 87% (2017) to 96% (2018). TB treatment success rate also increased from 71% in 2015 to 80% in 2018 against a target of 82%.

Drug-Resistant TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. In most cases, TB is treatable and curable; however, people with TB can die if they do not get proper treatment. Sometimes drug-resistant TB occurs when bacteria become resistant to the drugs used to treat TB. This means that the drug can no longer kill the TB bacteria.

Drug-resistant TB (DR TB) is spread the same way that drug-susceptible TB is spread. TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

Prevention

The most important way to prevent the spread of drug-resistant TB is to take all TB drugs exactly as prescribed by the health care provider. No doses should be missed and treatment should not be stopped early. People receiving treatment for TB disease should tell their health care provider if they are having trouble taking the drugs.

Health care providers can help prevent drug-resistant TB by quickly diagnosing cases, following recommended treatment guidelines, monitoring patients’ response to treatment, and making sure therapy is completed.

Another way to prevent getting drug-resistant TB is to avoid exposure to known drug-resistant TB patients in closed or crowded places such as hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters. People who work in hospitals or health-care settings where TB patients are likely to be seen should consult infection control or occupational health experts.