The Strategic Plan for Control of Tuberculosis in Australia, 2021–2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2022.46.48Keywords:
tuberculosis, strategic planAbstract
Rates of tuberculosis (TB) in Australia remain low by global standards. However, following a small decline from 2011 to 2015, there was an increase of 21 per cent in absolute case numbers from 2015 to 2020. Ninety-one percent of all notifications reported in 2020 with country of birth recorded occurred in people born overseas. While TB incidence remains higher than in Australian-born residents overall, there has been a 38% reduction in the rate of TB in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in 2020 compared to 2015.
The previous strategic plan (2016–2020) sought to lay the groundwork towards TB elimination in Australia. Many elements of the plan were achieved, and the framework provided was influential in shaping policy and practice and was accompanied by incidence reduction in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. However, overall TB incidence reduction over this period was not realised, with increased notifications in people born overseas, in part relating to the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This strategic plan continues to emphasise progress towards TB elimination and towards zero TB transmission within Australia. The plan maintains existing TB control efforts alongside ten priority areas of expanded activity. The highest-priority elements of this plan are i) improving latent TB diagnosis and treatment; ii) strengthening TB surveillance; iii) strengthening contact tracing, particularly through the routine incorporation of whole genome sequencing; iv) developing and evaluating national drug-resistant TB management approaches; and v) revising national consensus approaches to TB case management.
In addition to being strategic with regards to Australian capabilities and progress toward TB elimination, the priority areas outlined here also reflect a desire for increased harmonisation of practice and monitoring within and between jurisdictions, and for greater capacity for inter-jurisdictional cooperation in TB programmatic interventions. Key outputs from this strategic plan will be enhanced national guidelines and practice networks for exchange of data, training, and resources, to support Australia’s preparedness for optimal clinical and public health management of TB and strengthened capacity for regional engagement.
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