Health Experts Call for More Screening for Tuberculosis

Health experts in Kenya are sounding the alarm over a growing pool of undiagnosed tuberculosis (TB) cases, calling for a major scale-up in screening to prevent further spread. According to recent figures, about 40 percent of Kenyans with active TB remain undetected, fueling silent transmission in communities. The concern comes amid mounting evidence that untreated individuals could infect up to 10–15 other people each year, heightening the urgency for early diagnosis.
To address this gap, the government is deploying 80 ultra-portable, AI-enabled digital X-ray machines across 43 counties, prioritizing underserved and hard-to-reach regions. These high-tech units use computer-aided detection software to quickly interpret chest scans and flag potential TB cases. In parallel, the Ministry of Health has launched Integrated Lung Health Guidelines, developed with WHO support, to standardize diagnostic and follow-up practices. Counties like Turkana are already responding: they plan to acquire additional AI X-ray and GeneXpert machines to strengthen local TB screening and case detection.
Experts warn that this is a critical moment: without increased screening, undetected and drug-resistant TB could worsen, especially as funding pressures tighten. The WHO has also cautioned that cuts to global health resources threaten TB prevention services. There is growing backing for digital innovations like web-based screening tools — including WHO’s ScreenTB platform — to guide risk-based testing and help Kenya prioritize high-risk groups.
Looking ahead, health officials hope the combined push — technological, strategic, and community-based — will close the gap in TB diagnosis and treatment. By expanding screening and early detection, Kenya aims to reduce transmission, address drug resistance, and move closer to its goal of ending TB by 2030.