According to World Health Organizer (WHO) data, tuberculosis (TB) has resulted in an estimated death toll of 1.23 million people in 2024, maintaining itself as the most fatal infectious disease in the world, even after registering small advancements in control measures.
According to the latest global TB report from WHO, deaths from TB declined by three per cent from what they were in 2023, although new cases of TB also declined by close to two per cent, marking only the second time this has occurred simultaneously in the three years of disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, per Reuters.
Approximately 10.7 million people were estimated to be infected by TB in 2024, of whom 5.8 million were men, 3.7 million women, and 1.2 million children, according to World Health Organization data. According to World Health Organization’s Director for HIV, TB, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections Tereza Kasaeva,
“TB cases and deaths are now declining for the first time since the pandemic, but this trend is still threatened,” she said.
According to the report, tuberculosis, which is preventable and treatable, continues to spread from person to person by air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or spits.
WHO also pointed out another critical resource shortage, stating that only $5.9 billion is available worldwide for TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in 2024, which is nowhere close to meeting the annual target of $22 billion for 2027.
The organization has pointed out eight countries which account for two-thirds of TB cases, emphasizing the imperative of increased financial investments in order to make further headway in this fight.
