Doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, have identified a bacterial strain from China spreading tuberculosis (TB) in the northeastern states of India. This article outlines the current scenario of TB in India. When asked whether the government is aware of the current research findings, Minister of State for Health replied that “The government is aware of the study where Beijing strain of the bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been identified by doctors in AIIMS." He also mentioned that “There is no conclusive evidence that supports its spreading through the northeastern states.” According to The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report-2016, six nations- India, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Africa account for 60% of the new TB cases identified in 2015.
India alone accounts for 24% of the global TB cases. However,…
