It’s returning with a vengeance.
In a report released on Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that tuberculosis (TB) cases reached an all-time high last year, with more than 8 million individuals diagnosed globally. The report also indicated that 1.25 million people succumbed to the disease, reinstating TB as the leading cause of infectious disease deaths after briefly being overshadowed by COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, expressed outrage at the continuing toll of TB, emphasizing the availability of prevention, detection, and treatment tools. He called on nations to fulfill their commitments to expand these resources and work towards eradicating TB.
The burden of tuberculosis is not evenly distributed, with Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Western Pacific being the hardest-hit regions. India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan collectively represent over half of all global cases, according to the WHO report.
Demographically, men account for 55% of TB cases, while women and children make up 33% and 12%, respectively. Major contributing factors to the rise in TB cases include undernutrition, HIV, alcohol use disorders, smoking (especially among males), and diabetes. Addressing these risk factors, along with underlying social determinants such as poverty, demands a collaborative effort, as highlighted by the WHO.
Despite the challenges, the report noted some positive trends: TB-related deaths are declining globally, and the rate of new infections is stabilizing. However, multidrug-resistant TB remains a significant public health issue. Treatment success rates for multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant TB have reached 68%, yet only 44% of an estimated 400,000 individuals diagnosed with these strains received the necessary treatment in 2023.
Tuberculosis, primarily caused by airborne bacteria that target the lungs, is estimated to affect about a quarter of the world’s population, though only 5% to 10% will develop symptoms. Individuals with TB may not feel ill or contagious, allowing the disease to spread unknowingly. Symptoms, which can be mild for extended periods, include a persistent cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. TB typically affects the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body, including the kidneys, brain, spine, and skin.
Discussion about this post