Magic bullets, or magic guns – what is needed to control TB in Africa?

Significant progress has been made over the past decade in the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools for tuberculosis, and drug-resistant tuberculosis in particular, and for the first time, a serious debate on feasibility and obstacles of tuberculosis control towards elimination evolves. In sub-Saharan Africa, the HIV co-pandemic, massive gaps in our understanding of the precise epidemiology of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis, failing health systems and financial constraints are major obstacles for successful tuberculosis control. Two distinct country examples, namely South Africa…