ID, HIV experts urge more resources for TB

“The U.S. government has been a leader in stopping HIV/AIDS in the developing world,” said Dr. Hamilton. “We must show the same bold leadership on tuberculosis; otherwise, we run the risk of losing ground on control of tuberculosis—including highly drug-resistant TB—and HIV/AIDS.”

Unfortunately, the Bush administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2009 includes significant cuts for TB and other infectious disease programs. Especially hard-hit is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which would see a cut of nearly half a billion dollars in its total budget. IDSA supports increasing CDC’s overall budget by 15 percent and devoting $300 million for efforts to prevent, control, and eliminate tuberculosis in the United States. Likewise, IDSA supports increased resources for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s TB programs. NIH expects to spends about $187 million on TB in fiscal year 2009, including $17 million on efforts to find a new vaccine.

For more information, see:

HIV/TB Coinfection: Basic Facts HIVMA, IDSA, and the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research http://www.idsociety.org/uploadedFiles/IDSA/Resources/Fact_Sheets/HIV_TB_Coinfection_Oct_2007.pdf

IDSA/HIVMA Call for Action on XDR-TB (3/19/2007) http://www.idsociety.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=4036&LangType=1033

Stop TB Partnership www.stoptb.org

Family Health International Global Health Initiative www.familiesusa.org/whacktb

IDSA is an organization of physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals dedicated to promoting health through excellence in infectious diseases research, education, prevention, and patient care. The Society, which has more than 8,000 members, is based in Arlington, VA. HIVMA is the professional home for more than 3,600 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals dedicated to the field of HIV/AIDS. Nested within IDSA, HIVMA promotes quality in HIV care and advocates policies that ensure a comprehensive and humane response to the AIDS pandemic informed by science and social justice. For more information, visit our websites: www.hivma.org and www.idsociety.org.