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• TB Infection (or previously known as Latent TB infection) is a stage in between uninfected and having active TB. In this stage the person has no symptoms and can only be identified using laboratory tests.

• The vast majority of infected people may never develop TB disease. However, to achieve TB elimination, it is important to treat TB infection in people at risk of developing active TB disease.

Those who are suspected of having TB disease are first screened for symptoms like cough and fever for more than 2 weeks, blood stained sputum and weight-loss. If found positive on screening, then TB patients are referred for testing to the nearest health facility. If diagnosed with TB, then they are subsequently initiated on treatment.

National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) is a centrally sponsored programme being implemented under the aegis of National Health Mission.

National Level: Managed by Central TB Division (CTD), the technical arm of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW)

TB is one of the top burdensome infectious diseases in India. It is estimated that, around 1/4th (26%) of the world's TB cases are in India, translating to about 30 Lakhs new TB cases emerging each year (TB incidence). Against this estimated incidence the National TB Elimination program reported around 19 lakh new and relapse cases in the year 2021.

Tuberculosis is transmitted mainly through the air via droplet nuclei generated when a TB patient coughs or sneezes. 

It is estimated that every sputum smear-positive patient spreads the infection to 10 – 15 persons annually, if untreated..

Figure: Transmission of TB bacteria through air via droplet

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TB is caused due to the infection by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

People who have been exposed to patients with infectious TB are known as TB contacts; they constitute a high-risk group for TB. Case finding investigation contributes to the early detection of TB cases, and results in identifying a significant number of additional patients.

Figure: Approaches to Tuberculosis Case Finding

• The National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) is the public health initiative of the Government of India that organizes the country’s Tuberculosis Elimination efforts. 
• NTEP is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented under the aegis of the National Health Mission with resources sharing between the State Governments and the Central Government.
• The program provides various free of cost, quality tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services across the country.