After the Covid-19 pandemic there has been a surge of tuberculosis cases in Latvia, said representative of the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) Ieva Rimšāne.
Last year’s data for tuberculosis monitoring indicates that infection rates are on a rise. During Covid-19 pandemic tuberculosis infection rates were down. Compared with 2021, infection rates went up by more than 20%. 16.9 cases per 100 000 residents were recorded last year.
Rimšāne said the surge of infection numbers were previously expected because of limited access to healthcare,
which may have contributed to slower identification of cases of tuberculosis.
The situation is further aggravated by socioeconomic conditions. A similar situation was observed in 2012, when a surge of tuberculosis cases was observed after the economic crisis.
In the past five years there the surge of tuberculosis has been the highest among men, exceeding numbers for women three times. The ratio of infections was 70% among men and 30% among women.
Rimšāne reported that more than half of tuberculosis patients were unemployed and nearly one-third had alcohol addiction.
In 2021 there was also surge of HIV infections and consumption of narcotics. Infection risks are also very high for unemployed and homeless people.
HIV infection proportion among tuberculosis patients has also increased. Over the past five years there have been approximately 10% of cases in which patients had both tuberculosis and HIV. Rimšāne said the situation is similar in the rest of Europe. While in 2008 there were 4.9 cases per 100 000 residents in European countries, in 2021 their numbers reached 13 cases per 100 000 residents.
The risk of death is three times higher for these people when compared with those suffering form tuberculosis only.
Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Centre’s senior physician Andra Cīrule reports that during Covid-19 pandemic most patients were not even diagnosed with tuberculosis, which resulted in their state deteriorating, leading to increased death rates. There were also patients who were hospitalised with some other diagnosis. An x-ray performed on them later revealed tuberculosis by chance.
Director of Latvian Red Cross Uldis Līkops mentioned that doctors in the country can deal with tuberculosis. The problem is ensuring the disease is uncovered in its early stages.
«We cannot deal with it socially. The reason is smoking, vaping, as well as health problems caused by other diseases. Discussions have to be wider. They should be held in schools and involving family doctors,» stressed Līkops.
RAKUS Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Centre’s WHO Cooperation Office director Līga Kukša added that often doctors themselves cannot identify the disease and its symptoms. This is why it is important to explain it to everyone – NGOs and doctors – how to identify it.
The Ministry of Health has developed an HIV infection, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, B and C hepatitis restriction plan for 2023-2027. The plan is currently in the middle of coordination.
The ministry’s representative Anita Segliņa explained the goal of the plan is reducing infection risks, promote timely diagnosis and treatment. One of the priorities is promoting public awareness and education using various information campaigns.
Also read: Rights for dignified death should be a fundamental part of Latvian medicine