Infectious diseases are one of the most significant causes of mortality worldwide, accounting for more than 13 million deaths in 2019.1 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), six out of ten threats to global health in 20192 were related to infectious diseases and were ranked third in terms of deaths behind heart diseases and cancer.3 Without timely intervention and preventative measures, infectious diseases can spread rapidly with potentially catastrophic effects.
At Roche, our patient-centric approach continues to focus on expanding our extensive portfolio of trusted and flexible infectious diseases diagnostics solutions. From immunochemistry, molecular, and blood safety solutions, as well as point of care rapid diagnostic solutions, we empower our partners to maximize their medical value and meet the needs of patients today and in the future.
Despite huge progress in understanding, prevention, access to diagnostics, and treatment over the past century, the human and economic cost of communicable illnesses is staggering.
Eight major infectious diseases ranging from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to hepatitis accounted for a global economic burden of up to US$ 8 trillion, with more than 156 million life years lost for the year 2016 alone.4 Furthermore, from 2019 to 2020 the COVID-19 global mortality cost was US$ 9 trillion.5
Knowing what we are up against is the first step in setting a course of action. Explore the prevalence of major infectious diseases below.
Cervical cancer
HIV
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
Tuberculosis (TB)
Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Dengue
Healthcare professionals face a number of hurdles in their efforts to limit the spread of disease. Increasing global travel, lifestyle changes, population growth, and even climate change all have an impact. Furthermore, silent or asymptomatic infections, drug resistance, and emerging diseases continue to pose challenges to effective disease management.
People with asymptomatic infections may also be able to transmit disease unknowingly to others while their own illness lingers untreated, causing longer-term damage to their health.
Today, an estimated 90% of the 354 million people worldwide living with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their status.15 If left undiagnosed and untreated, these infections may progress to severe diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver failure.
Or, it may become the underlying cause of another, more serious illness, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) which has been linked to a number of cancers including cervical cancer in women, as well as being the cause of various cancers in men.
Reliable diagnostics help detect and monitor for silent infections, reducing the spread of infection and improving disease and patient management.
Prevention of the spread of disease becomes doubly important at a time when the world faces the growing threat of drug resistance. Unregulated access and inappropriate use of pharmaceuticals have led to growing rates of drug resistance, resulting in tens of thousands of avoidable deaths every year.16 An estimated 70% of the two million hospital infections in the US are resistant to at least one antibiotic.17 Control over multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and resistance to antiretrovirals for HIV are just two of the diseases at risk from resistance.
On January 30, 2020, WHO declared the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Just a few weeks later on March 11, WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.18
COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and has now disrupted the lives of billions and overwhelmed many healthcare systems. Healthcare professionals and regulatory authorities have recognized that accurate, high-throughput and high-quality diagnostic testing is vital to containing the transmission of COVID-19.
By mid-2016, the Zika virus disease epidemic spread rapidly to thousands of people in Puerto Rico.19 Zika virus can be transmitted through infected mosquitoes, mother-to-child during pregnancy, sexual intercourse, donor blood transfusion and organ transplantation. The virus can cause birth defects in newborns, including microcephaly. In adults, Zika can cause neurological complications.20
From 2014 to 2016, the world witnessed the largest Ebola virus disease outbreak to date. After starting in Guinea, the virus quickly spread to thousands in the surrounding areas of West Africa. Over the course of the epidemic, seven other countries outside of West Africa reported cases of Ebola including the United Kingdom and United States. Ultimately, there were 28,652 cases and 11,325 deaths.21
Babesiosis is a tick-borne illness from the Babesia parasite that leads to infection and destruction of red blood cells. The disease can be transmitted directly through tick bites, blood transfusion or from mother to fetus during pregnancy.22
With the assistance of dependable diagnostic solutions and continuous enhancement of digital solutions, clinicians need to be able to identify the greatest threats to health and design an appropriate response. This may mean localized prevention, individual treatment post-infection, or contributing to widespread policy change at national or international levels.
Roche has a proud history of delivering advanced testing that delivers increasingly precise information to help save lives. Together, we can leverage diagnostics to continue improving public health and the care of patients everywhere. Together, we can fight to eradicate infectious diseases globally.
Roche is leading the way in providing a broad range of reliable diagnostic solutions for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and HPV.
Reliable, scalable, and sustainable diagnostic solutions to help support the management and eradication of viral hepatitis.
At Roche, our vision is to empower laboratories for the future by streamlining design and simplifying processes. We have a proven track record of pioneering innovative diagnostic solutions that our customers can rely on:
With increasing complexity, breadth, and volume of infectious diseases testing, labs want a long-term, collaborative and strategic partner that understands their needs and helps them build a lab that delivers the best possible service, both pre- and post-sale. At Roche, our commitment to our customers revolves around 2 key aspects:
Between 60-70% of medical decisions are based on in vitro diagnostic test results.24 Together, we can amplify the value that diagnostics offer by focusing on:
Unlock insights with our interactive testing guide and take some of the world’s most notorious infectious agents to the test. Discover pathogen-specific markers, examine comprehensive testing algorithms, and simulate diagnostic sequences.
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