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COUNTRIES
THE CASE FOR HIV AND TUBERCULOSIS INTEGRATION
HIV and tuberculosis (TB) rates in Central Asia are on the rise, with increased cases of co-infection. HIV weakens the immune system and so people are more susceptible to catching TB if they are exposed. People with HIV/AIDS are up to 50 times more likely to develop active TB in a given year than HIV-negative people, with TB bacteria accelerating the progression of HIV to AIDS.
TB is one of the few HIV/AIDS-associated infections that can be spread to others just by breathing the same air. The TB bacteria are virulent enough that they can make even healthy adults and children sick, who in turn can spread it to others. If there are a lot of HIV-infected people in the community, the vicious cycle results in more and more people with TB.
HIV/AIDS IN CENTRAL ASIA
Eastern Europe and Central Asia is the only region where HIV prevalence clearly remains on the rise. The number of people living with HIV has almost tripled since 2000 and reached an estimated total of 1.4 million in 2009. Located along major drug trafficking routes, Central Asia has experienced a rapid increase in drug use since 2000, resulting in a corresponding rise in HIV infections among people who inject drugs. Although the HIV prevalence remains under 1% among the general population across the region, over 70% of HIV cases have been attributed to injecting drug use. High rates of HIV infections among other populations include female sex workers and their clients, prisoners, men who have sex with men and migrants. The intersecting epidemic of sexually transmitted infections among these populations highlights the potential for bridging HIV transmission to the general population through sexual transmission.
TUBERCULOSIS IN CENTRAL ASIA
Although tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable disease, it is still a leading cause of death worldwide. Globally in 2009, there were 9.4 million new TB cases, including 1.1 million cases among people with HIV. 1.7 million people died from TB in 2009 (including 380,000 people with HIV), equal to 4700 deaths a day. In that same year, 3.3% of all new TB cases had multiple-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
In the countries of Central Asia, the burden of TB is very high. According to WHO statistics for 2009, the total TB cases notified for five countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) was 69,028. Combined confirmed cases of MDR TB for the region were 5,441.
TB is most prevalent among the poor and their families – including the homeless, substance abusers, ex-prisoners and malnourished. The prisons are notorious for the spread of TB. Crowded living conditions, unplanned amnesties and frequent defaulting result in high TB and MDR-TB incidence.
All data are taken from the following sources:
- World Health Organization, “The Three I’s for HIV/TB"
- UNAIDS, “Eastern Europe and Central Asia"
- World Health Organization, “2010/2011 Tuberculosis Global Facts"
- World Health Organization, “Tuberculosis Country Profiles"
USAID DIALOGUE ON HIV AND TB PROJECT | 2009 – 2014
USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project is one of the many assistance projects supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since 1992, the American people through USAID have provided more than $1.5 billion in programs that support democratic institutions, health care system, education system and economic growth in the Central Asian countries.
This website is made possible by the support of the American people through USAID. The contents are the sole responsibility of PSI and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.