Latin American tuberculosis rise will challenge policy

Significance Researchers have identified various drivers such as rising incarceration rates, mass migration, inadequate healthcare access and persistent poverty and inequality. TB is associated with a high health burden, exacerbating chronic diseases and prompting significant long-term illnesses such as post-TB lung disease, adding to the strain on Latin America’s underfunded healthcare systems. Impacts Most TB cases are found in adult men, affecting economic productivity in a region where female labour force participation rates remain low. Long-term health impacts can affect survivors’ ability to work, increasing the risk of households falling into poverty. Fears of TB spread may strengthen already-rising anti-migrant sentiment if they are perceived as sources of disease.