The World Health Organization has said an estimated 8.2 million new tuberculosis cases were diagnosed globally in 2023, the highest annual count recorded since tracking began in 1995.
This revelation, part of WHO’s newly released Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, underscores an alarming rise in TB incidence worldwide.
According to the report, a total of 10.8 million individuals developed TB last year, marking a concerning shift as TB surpassed COVID-19 to become the leading cause of death from an infectious disease.
A breakdown of the data indicates that 55% of those affected were men, while women comprised 33%, and children and adolescents accounted for 12%.
The geographical distribution of TB cases remains starkly unequal, with five countries—India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan—bearing a disproportionate 56% of the global TB burden.
This concentration of cases in specific regions highlights the critical need for focused interventions tailored to the unique challenges and healthcare capacities in these areas.
“India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan account for 56 percent of the global TB burden,” WHO stated.
Furthermore, multidrug-resistant TB continues to pose a severe health crisis, with only 44% of estimated cases being accurately diagnosed and treated last year.
The lack of sufficient detection and care options for drug-resistant TB presents a substantial barrier to effective control, especially as this variant often requires more intensive and prolonged treatment.
Funding for TB prevention and care has also declined, dropping to $5.7 billion in 2023.
This amount represents just 26% of the global funding target, with low- and middle-income countries facing pronounced financial shortfalls in addressing TB.
WHO’s findings suggest that, without adequate financial resources, countries struggle to make lasting progress against the disease.
The WHO calls for renewed efforts and investment, urging nations to fully utilize the tools available for TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, emphasized this need by stating, “TB can be prevented, detected, and treated with available tools. We must expand tool usage and invest in sustained financial efforts to end TB.”
