The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report indicating that approximately 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in 2023. This represents the highest number of cases since global monitoring of TB began in 1995, an increase from 7.5 million cases in 2022. This trend reinforces TB’s position as the leading infectious disease killer, surpassing COVID-19.
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 notes mixed progress in combating TB, with ongoing challenges such as underfunding. While TB-related deaths decreased from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the overall number of people falling ill with TB rose to an estimated 10.8 million.
Five countries—India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan—accounted for 56% of the global TB burden. Among the cases, men represented 55%, women 33%, and children and adolescents 12%. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized that the continued loss of life due to TB is unacceptable given the existing prevention and treatment tools.
In 2023, the gap between estimated and reported new TB cases narrowed to about 2.7 million, thanks to efforts to recover from COVID-related service disruptions. However, multidrug-resistant TB remains a significant concern, as only 44% of those affected have been diagnosed and treated.
Global funding for TB prevention and care fell further in 2023, reaching only $5.7 billion of the $22 billion target. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which bear 98% of the TB burden, have been particularly impacted. International donor funding has stagnated at around $1.1 to $1.2 billion annually.
TB research is also severely underfunded, achieving only one-fifth of the annual target of $5 billion in 2022. The WHO continues to advocate for advancements in TB vaccine development.
Half of the households affected by TB face catastrophic costs for diagnosis and treatment. Major risk factors for new TB cases include undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking, and diabetes, highlighting the need for a coordinated response across various sectors.
Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme, stressed the urgent need to address challenges such as funding shortfalls and the impacts of climate change and conflict. The WHO calls for immediate action from governments and donors to translate commitments made during the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB into meaningful progress. Increased funding for research, particularly for new TB vaccines, is essential to achieve global targets set for 2027.
Engineer, Entrepreneur, forex trader and Analyst
