SYDNEY, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Australian researchers have developed detailed tuberculosis (TB) maps of Africa, offering a powerful new tool to improve global efforts in diagnosing, treating and preventing the disease worldwide.
The new study, the first of its kind, mapped TB cases across 14 African countries, breaking down data into five-square-kilometer grids, a press release from Curtin University in Western Australia said on Tuesday.
Drawing from 50 surveys and over 1.5 million people, researchers identified local hotspots and found stark differences in disease burden within countries, the release said.
TB remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, infecting an estimated 10.8 million people and claiming 1.25 million lives in 2023 alone, it said.
"This study highlights how factors such as higher temperatures, rainfall, altitude and better access to cities can influence the prevalence of TB," said lead author PhD candidate Alemneh Liyew from Curtin's School of Population Health and the Kids Research Institute Australia.
With this data, health resources can be targeted more effectively, Liyew said, adding that this is the first study to provide local-level TB maps across Africa.
Curtin University Associate Professor Kefyalew Alene, the study's co-author, said the findings could influence global TB strategies, as detailed mapping allows for targeted interventions, which are crucial in resource-limited settings.
The research, published in Communications Medicine, supports the World Health Organization's goal of cutting TB deaths by 95 percent by 2035. ■
