Mahshid Nasiri, the national program manager for tuberculosis, leprosy, and acute respiratory infections at the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, provided explanations about the status of tuberculosis in Iran and the process of identifying those affected by this disease. According to estimates from the World Health Organization, the incidence of tuberculosis in Iran is about 10 cases per 100,000 population per year.
Worrying statistics on tuberculosis patients
Nasiri explained that the reported incidence differs from the actual incidence of the disease, and not all cases of tuberculosis are identified. Therefore, statistical methods and estimation models are used to estimate the actual number of patients in the country. Estimates indicate that about 8,600 people are infected with tuberculosis annually, and last year, 5,676 cases were identified, which means that about 66 percent of the estimated tuberculosis cases in the country were identified.
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In addition, Nasiri referred to the share of non-Iranian nationals among tuberculosis patients, stating that in 2021, 19.3 percent of tuberculosis patients were non-Iranian nationals, and this figure has risen to about 25 percent in recent years. This increase in the share of non-Iranian nationals among identified tuberculosis cases in Iran over the past decade, especially following the political and social upheavals in Afghanistan and the wave of migration from that country to Iran, has gained more significance.
Challenges in identifying and treating patients
The national program manager for tuberculosis, leprosy, and acute respiratory infections at the Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of providing diagnostic and treatment services to this group of patients, noting that this action is essential not only from a humanitarian perspective but also for protecting the public health of the country. If tuberculosis patients are not identified and treated, there is a risk of disease transmission to other individuals, including Iranian citizens.
She also pointed to the importance of gaining the trust of individuals for implementing diagnostic and screening programs in migrant populations. Diagnosing tuberculosis typically requires examining symptoms, sampling, and conducting specialized tests, and conditions must be created for individuals to seek diagnosis and treatment without fear of potential consequences.
Nasiri also referred to recent estimates indicating that about 15 million people in the country are infected with tuberculosis, which means these individuals could be potential reservoirs of the disease. If their immune systems weaken, these individuals may develop active disease, especially in old age when the likelihood of immune system weakening increases.
This official concluded by mentioning the social and economic challenges, migration, and resource limitations that can affect the disease control process, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to individuals who are infected with the tuberculosis bacterium but have not yet developed active disease. These individuals may develop tuberculosis if their immune systems weaken throughout their lives.
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