A study from the Amsterdam University Medical Center has revealed that over a quarter of individuals with tuberculosis (TB) show no symptoms, significantly challenging the disease’s diagnosis, which traditionally relies on symptoms such as a persistent cough. The findings, highlighted by Professor Frank Cobelens, stress the need for a reassessment of TB diagnostic methods to include X-ray screening and the development of more accessible tests. This comes against a backdrop of a 10.7% increase in TB cases in England in 2023, as reported by the UK Health Security Agency, signaling a concerning rise in the disease, particularly in large cities and disadvantaged areas.

In another development, research led by Queensland Health questions the accuracy of the term “long Covid” to describe post-viral symptoms following illnesses like the flu and Covid-19. Dr. John Gerrard, the study’s lead author, suggests that the term may exacerbate fear and hinder recovery, pointing out that the study found no significant difference in post-viral functional limitations between patients with Covid-19 and those with other respiratory illnesses. The research, set to be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, underscores the need for a critical review of how long Covid is characterized, amidst concerns from some experts about downplaying the condition without comprehensive physiological assessments.