The Union has been leading the way in knowledge and research sharing around COVID-19 and lung health, including a powerful webinar series, publishing guidance, briefings, journal articles, and a set of frequently asked questions.
FAQs on COVID-19 and lung health
The Union has published a set of frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 and lung health, focusing on its impact on TB services and the people undergoing TB treatment, and guidance to maintain quality care throughout this period, as well as recommendations and guidance for healthcare workers treating smokers with COVID-19.
Webinar series: COVID-19 and lung health
The COVID-19 pandemic is perhaps the greatest healthcare challenge of a generation. The Union, in collaboration with its global community of members, is pleased to launch an open-access webinar series on COVID-19 and its intersection with tuberculosis (TB), tobacco control, lung disease and more.
See our other webinars here
Preserving TB and TB-HIV services in the face of an unprecedented pandemic in Africa
subtitle: Wednesday 1 July, 12:00 - 13:00 CEST
This Union member-led webinar builds on this IJTLD article, describing the TB and COVID-19 situation in Zimbabwe, and discussing safeguarding the provision of TB and collaborative TB-HIV services in Africa. Recent international guidance on TB-HIV care during COVID-19 will also be reviewed.
Fumar en tiempos de COVID-19
subtitle: Mié., 24 de Jun. de 2020 16:00 - 17:45 CEST
Spanish language webinar
Los facilitadores serán el Dr. Gustavo Zabert y el Lic. Gustavo Sóñora.
Los expositores serán la Dra. Laura Llambí, el Dr. Rogelio Pérez Padilla y el Dr. Carlos Jiménez Ruiz. Con comentario especial del Dr Eduardo Bianco.
TB preventive therapy: recent advances and future prospects
subtitle: Tuesday 23 June, 16:00 - 17:00 CEST
TB remains the number one global infectious-disease killer and prevention remains key to its elimination. While prevention of any infectious disease makes intuitive public health sense, TB prevention has been a relatively neglected area in TB control efforts until recently.
COVID-19 and TB: Personal perspectives
subtitle: Thursday 18 June, 14:00 - 15:00 CEST
Kate O’Brien and Ezio Tavora Dos Santos Filho, both TB survivors, will chair the discussion. The panellists will be: Claire Forlani, film and television actor and Union Ambassador. Dr Purna C. Kashyap, a COVID-19 survivor, based in the USA. Ms Athira Elssa Johnson, who is currently receiving treatment for TB, and living in Kerala, India. Dr Thato Mosidi, XDR TB survivor, who lives in South Africa.
Monitoring the COVID-19 Pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa: paying attention to health facility admissions and deaths
subtitle: Wednesday 10 June, 14:00-15:00 CEST
Speakers: Former Union President Jeremiah Chakaya, Leo Martinez, Anthony D Harries.
Desafíos para enfrentar la interferencia de la Industria Tabacalera en tiempos del COVID-19
subtitle: jueves 28 de mayo, 10:00-11:00 CDT
Spanish language webinar:
Moderadores: Gustavo Sóñora y Cristiane Vianna
Participación especial: Dra Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva
Expositores: Silvana Rubano Turci, Jorge Vega Cárdenas, Rodrigo Bolaños
COVID official guidance
Read official guidance from The Union and our partner organisations on the latest guidance on COVID-19.
IJTLD fast-tracked articles
In order to share scientific research of immediate concern as rapidly as possible, The Union is fast-tracking accepted articles from the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) regarding COVID-19 and publishing them in full on our website, prior to their publication in the Journal.
See a complete list of all of our fast-tracked articles here.
Asymptomatic COVID-19 – implications for the control of transmission in South Africa
The authors conducted a retrospective analysis to determine the proportion of asymptomatic COVID-19 in the workplace during lockdown in early 2020. Nearly 45% of cases were asymptomatic, which has implications for interventions, such as enforcing quarantine of all close contacts of COVID-19 cases regardless of symptoms.
The impact of COVID-19 on TB: a review of the data
In this recently accepted Review for IJTLD, the authors summarise the evidence available at a country level, identifying broad mechanisms by which COVID-19 may modify TB burden and mitigation efforts.
Tackling TB and COVID-19: US leadership is needed on global health, now more than ever
In the lead up to World TB Day, an article in PHA calls for increased funding and renewed leadership to coordinate the global fight against TB. A relatively small investment in TB control has the potential to transform TB care, saving millions of lives and trillions of dollars in the global economy.
The latest Union news about COVID-19
Impact of COVID-19 on TB detection in the private sector in Nepal
In this Correspondence accepted article for IJTLD, the authors found a 67.4% decrease in testing, a 66.9% decrease in bacteriologically confirmed (bac+) diagnosis and a 58.9% decrease in diagnosis of all forms TB. The preprint is free to read.
Diagnosis patterns for rifampicin-resistant TB after onset of COVID-19
In this recently accepted article for IJTLD, the authors found that RR-TB diagnosis decreased by 21–38% following the start of the pandemic. The results are disturbing and suggest that COVID-19 has had a sustained impact at a time when household transmission of TB/RR-TB might have increased due to ‘shelter at home’. The preprint is free to read.
Impact of COVID-19 on TB case detection and treatment outcomes
The Centre for Operational Research at The Union, working in close collaboration with the National TB Programme and National AIDS…
The Union message to the people of India
The Union expresses its solidarity with the people of India who are suffering immensely during this current wave of the COVID-19…
The impact of COVID-19 on TB: a review of the data
In this recently accepted Review for IJTLD, the authors summarise the evidence available at a country level, identifying broad mechanisms by which COVID-19 may modify TB burden and mitigation efforts.
Partner sponsored content
The Union presents a series of special webinar sessions, organised and paid for by our partners to showcase new science and new areas of work. All paid for sessions are reviewed for compliance with The Union’s mission and vision.
Past webinar
The twin epidemics of TB and COVID-19: challenges and controversies
Watch a recording of this webinar
This webinar is paid for and created by Oxford Immunotec.
