MHF TOP PICKS FOR January
Every month, we at the Mueller Health Foundation like to showcase interesting news and updates in the field of tuberculosis (TB). Below are our top 3 picks for January:
- Study Finds that Tuberculosis Strains Resistant to New Drugs are Being Transmitted between Patients
A study by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) has revealed the alarming spread of tuberculosis (TB) strains resistant to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) newly recommended BPaL(M) treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). By analyzing nearly 90,000 TB genomes globally, researchers identified 514 strains resistant to both older treatments and the BPaL regimen. These highly drug-resistant strains were found in 27 countries across four continents, with 28% directly transmitted from one patient to another. The emergence and transmission of resistance to the BPaL regimen, which WHO endorsed in 2022 for its improved safety and efficacy, underscore the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, infection control, and intensified global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance in TB. To learn more, you can access the research study at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2404644
- Study Shows that More than 80% of Patients with Tuberculosis Do Not Have a Persistent Cough
A study led by Amsterdam UMC and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, analyzing data from over 600,000 individuals in Africa and Asia, found that more than 80% of tuberculosis patients do not exhibit a persistent cough, traditionally considered a key symptom of the disease. Specifically, 82.8% lacked a persistent cough, and 62.5% had no cough at all. Additionally, over a quarter of those with TB were asymptomatic, with these traits more common in women. Notably, a quarter of patients without a cough had high bacterial loads in their sputum, indicating they were likely highly infectious. These findings suggest that reliance on persistent cough as a primary diagnostic criterion may delay TB diagnosis and treatment, potentially facilitating further transmission. The study advocates for rethinking TB identification strategies, emphasizing the need for enhanced screening methods, such as X-ray examinations and the development of new, inexpensive, and user-friendly diagnostic tests, to effectively detect and manage TB cases.
DID YOU KNOW?
In a remarkable discovery in 2024, researchers uncovered evidence of tuberculosis in Neanderthal remains found in the Subalyuk Cave in northern Hungary, marking the earliest known cases of the disease in prehistoric humans.
The skeletal remains of a female adult and a child, dating back approximately 33,000 to 38,000 years, exhibited bony lesions indicative of TB infection. This discovery suggests that Neanderthals were susceptible to TB, providing insights into the health challenges they faced and raising questions about the role of infectious diseases in their extinction.
This finding not only sheds light on the health challenges faced by Neanderthals but also suggests that TB predates modern human evolution and was likely a common affliction among hominins. Genetic analysis supports the idea that the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis evolved alongside humans and their relatives, demonstrating the deep and complex history of this deadly disease.
The finding emphasizes the significance of studying ancient diseases to understand their evolution, spread, and persistence. TB remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and understanding its ancient origins provides valuable context for tackling the disease today. This discovery underscores the enduring relationship between humans and their pathogens, offering critical insights into the co-evolution of health and disease.

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/1st-known-tuberculosis-cases-in-neanderthals-revealed-in-prehistoric-bone-anaylsis#
Image credit: Photo by Michal Fludra/NurPhoto via Getty Images