The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that over 8 million people were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) last year, marking the highest number ever recorded. This alarming statistic underscores the ongoing threat posed by TB, with approximately 1.25 million individuals succumbing to the disease in the same period. The report highlights that TB has reemerged as the leading infectious disease killer globally, surpassing COVID-19, which had taken the spotlight during the pandemic. Notably, TB-related deaths nearly doubled those caused by HIV in 2023.
WHO's findings reveal that TB predominantly impacts populations in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Western Pacific regions. Countries such as India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan collectively account for more than half of all TB cases worldwide. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed dismay at the persisting toll of TB, emphasizing that effective tools for prevention, detection, and treatment are readily available.
While global TB mortality rates are declining, the number of new infections is stabilizing. However, the report notes a concerning gap in diagnosing and treating drug-resistant TB cases, with less than half of the estimated 400,000 affected individuals receiving proper care.
Tuberculosis, caused by airborne bacteria primarily affecting the lungs, remains a significant health concern, with an estimated one-quarter of the global population carrying the TB bacteria. Only a small percentage, around 5-10%, develop symptomatic TB.
Advocacy groups, including Doctors Without Borders, have urged Cepheid, a U.S. company producing TB tests used in low-income countries, to lower the cost of tests to $5 each. The aim is to enhance accessibility to TB testing globally. In response, Doctors Without Borders and 150 health organizations penned an open letter to Cepheid, urging the company to prioritize saving lives and facilitate broader availability of TB testing.
As efforts continue to combat the TB epidemic, global health stakeholders are called upon to intensify their commitment to eradicating this preventable and treatable disease.
