M. tuberculosis genomic surveillance in Paraguay

Recent rises in tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Paraguay and the increasing concentration of TB within prisons highlight the urgency of targeting strategies to interrupt transmission and prevent new infections. However, whether specific cities or carceral institutions play a disproportionate role in transmission remains unknown. To characterize M. tuberculosis transmission in Paraguay, we conducted prospective genomic surveillance inside and outside prisons in the urban departments of Central, Capital, and Alto Parana, Paraguay, from 2016 to 2021, where 60 percent (10,095/16,734) of notified TB cases occurred.