According to new figures released by the WHO, Tuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s single deadliest infectious disease, claiming an estimated 1.23 million lives in 2024.
Although TB deaths edged down slightly from 2023, health officials warn that progress is fragile—and may be reversed without urgent action.
Scope and Spread of the Epidemic
- There were roughly 10.7 million new TB cases globally in 2024, per WHO estimates.
- The disease disproportionately affects regions such as South-East Asia and Africa, where access to effective diagnosis and treatment remains limited.
- Key risk drivers include under-nutrition, HIV infection, diabetes, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption.
>>>See also Noncommunicable diseases<<<
Why the Fight Against TB Is Stalling
Although TB is preventable and treatable, several major obstacles remain:
- Under-diagnosis: Many infections go undetected and untreated.
- Drug resistance: Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) continues to pose a major health security threat.
- Funding gaps: The WHO estimates that the annual global requirement for TB prevention, diagnosis and care is around US$ 22 billion — yet available funding is falling well short
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Why This Matters Now
The recent decline in TB deaths and incidence is the first since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted services — but experts caution this modest improvement may be reversed.
With global targets such as the WHO’s End TB Strategy slipping further out of reach, the world risks a resurgence of TB unless momentum is regained.
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What Needs to Be Done
Public-health leaders and policymakers note several key strategies to turn the tide:
- Scale up early diagnosis and ensure access to newer, more effective treatments — especially for MDR-TB.
- Boost investment in TB programs and research, particularly in low– and middle-income countries.
- Prioritize high-burden regions, improving healthcare infrastructure, and ensuring vulnerable populations are reached.
- Address social determinants of TB: improving nutrition, reducing tobacco and alcohol use, and integrating TB care with other health services.
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