The challenges facing TB patients in Syria
Between July 2019 and September 2020, hundreds of tuberculosis (TB) cases were detected in northwest Syria. However, there are still several challenges and some missing links for the optimal implementation of the End TB Strategy according to World Health Organization guidelines. Rifampicin- and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB), which requires more complex treatment than drug-susceptible (DS) TB, is one of the biggest obstacles to meeting 2020 milestones to end TB.
Since the beginning of July 2020, there has been a reported increase in RR/MDR-TB cases detected in northwest Syria, totalling 12 cases in the most recent reporting period.