The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that around 8.2 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported worldwide in 2023—the highest number recorded since WHO began tracking global TB rates in 1995. This sharp increase from 7.5 million in 2022 highlights TB’s return as the world’s leading infectious disease killer, surpassing COVID-19.
WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 presents a mixed picture in the global fight against TB, with a decline in TB-related deaths from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, yet a persistent challenge with rising cases and insufficient funding.
Countries most burdened by TB include India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan, collectively comprising over half of global cases. These high-burden nations underscore the need for robust financial and logistical support to combat TB’s resurgence.
The report also highlights the rise of multidrug-resistant TB as a severe global health threat, noting that 44% of MDR-TB cases in 2023 went undiagnosed or untreated. Funding shortages remain critical, with only 26% of the $22 billion target for TB prevention and treatment met in 2023, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries where the epidemic is most severe.
WHO’s Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged immediate global action, emphasizing that a lack of investment hinders efforts to develop new diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines essential to combat this resurging crisis effectively.
