The TB Control Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) detected 3,960 latent (inactive) TB cases in the city through IGRA testing, before the illness turned them into patients. These inactive cases of TB were found during the screenings of family members of patients. Doctors have also warned that alongwith adult, paediatric TB patients are on a rise in the city. India has set a target to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025, however, the number of TB patients is increasing. To curb the infection, the central government has directed states to find latent TB cases, and start preventive courses so that they won’t turn into TB patients in the future.

How latent cases were found

Accordingly, the BMC’s TB Control Department started screening family members of pulmonary TB patients in July 2022. As per the data provided by the Mumbai District TB control society, from July 2022 till date, the department did Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) testing of 7,656 family members of TB patients, out of which 3,960 people were confirmed to have the presence of inactive tuberculosis bacteria.