According to the National Phthisiology Center, Kyrgyzstan is seeing a decrease in tuberculosis incidence. In 2023, there were 4,170 new cases and relapses (59.8 per 100,000 people), 426 fewer cases than in the same period in 2022.
The incidence among children also dropped to 11.9 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 14.5 in 2022. However, among teenagers, the level increased to 41.2 per 100,000 people from 29.8 in 2022.
Last year, tuberculosis claimed the lives of 180 people, slightly higher than the 176 deaths in 2022. The director of the National Phthisiology Center, Abdullaat Kadyrov, mentioned that the pandemic significantly affected tuberculosis detection worldwide.
Kadyrov stated that globally, post-pandemic tuberculosis detection decreased by 25%. In Kyrgyzstan, the decrease was 32%, attributed to restricted measures hindering access to tuberculosis treatment. Despite the decrease, efforts have intensified since 2021, resulting in improved treatment effectiveness, especially for drug-resistant forms.
Before 2017, treatment for drug-resistant forms lasted up to three years, but now, six to nine-month treatment courses are being implemented. The effectiveness of the shorter treatment regimen has increased from 56-57% to 84%.
The progress in tuberculosis management in Kyrgyzstan reflects both the implementation of new drugs and innovative diagnostic methods over the past 15 years, contributing to the decline in incidence and mortality rates.
