Tuberculosis in prisons today

• TB in California prisons is controlled today.

  • BCG vaccine in 1921. 

  • In 2016, TB in CA reached a historic low (Barry, 2016). 

• However, In certain parts of the world, inmates still suffer from MDR-TB (Multi-Drug Resistance Tuberculosis) 

  • Bacteria is resistant to treatment

  • When people do not complete the full prescribed course, drugs are of poor quality, drugs were not taken regularly.

  • Ex. Philipines, overcrowding. Manila City Jail, was built for 1,000 inmates but houses more than 5,000 prisoners today (ICRC). ​

• TB incidence is 5 to 70 times greater in prisons than in communities (USAID). 

• Prisons are often high-risk environments for TB transmission because of severe overcrowding, poor nutrition, poor ventilation, and limited access & often insufficient health care.

• The health of inmates is also the health of the wider community. 

• Improving TB control in prisons benefits society at large and should be at the core of every public health policy that aims to eradicate the disease (USAID).