J Bras Pneumol. 2022;48(2):e20220082 The spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to progress, causing damage in several countries of the world due to its rapid transmissibility and significant mortality rates, despite government measures to contain its transmission, such as movement control, the closing of schools, bans on travel and public gatherings, the mandatory use of masks, and hand hygiene. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has clinical manifestations that are similar to those found in other infections also transmitted through the airways, such as pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) Although TB is a global health problem, it is a curable disease, with affordable treatment and prevention. Nonetheless, it remains one of the leading causes of death from a single infectious agent worldwide, a situation threatened by COVID-19

MEDBOX Issue Brief no. 19: World TB Day: Invest to end TB. Save Lives

Tuberculosis (TB) is the deadliest infectious disease in most low- and middle-income countries, claiming more than 4,000 lives each day. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted people with pre-existing health conditions. People with TB are usually more vulnerable to other infections, including the novel coronavirus, due to pre-existing lung damage. They are also at higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19

WHO Information Leaflet COVID-19: Considerations on tuberculosis (TB) care

Clinical guidelines for the care of persons with suspected tuberculosis and and follow-up of diagnosed cases, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

13 May 2021 To avoid a reversal of progress from the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, new knowledge and lessons from successful programmatic innovations are urgently needed to improve TB prevention and care. Experience can provide evidence for innovative approaches and strategies to maintain and scale up high-quality TB services. WHO therefore called for case studies on programmatic innovations that address emerging challenges in TB prevention and care during the pandemic in order to collect and disseminate the findings to the TB community. Between November 2020 and February 2021, a total of 23 case studies relevant to the call were accepted from 19 countries in the six regions of WHO. The lessons learnt from these country activities to ensure the continuity of essential services like TB care in the face of the crippling crisis may also inform strategies for minimizing the impact of future emerging pathogens on health services

Slideset updated regularly to include the latest data and guidance on COVID-19 risk and management in special populations, including children and pregnant women, and persons with comorbidities.

Information note

28 September 2021 Less than half of required funding has been provided globally with dramatic consequences as hundreds of thousands more die from TB

5 May 2021 This Information Note is intended to assist national TB programmes and health personnel worldwide to maintain essential tuberculosis (TB) services during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the recovery phase. It is important that recent progress made in TB prevention and care is not reversed by COVID-19. The WHO Global TB Programme, along with WHO regional and country offices, developed this note in response to questions received from Member States and other partners since the start of the pandemic. The note includes references to other published WHO information products relevant to TB practitioners. WHO continues to monitor the situation closely for any changes that may influence this note and will issue updates should any factors change