In 2023, Tuberculosis (TB) reclaimed its position as the world’s leading cause of death, surpassing COVID-19, which had caused almost twice as many fatalities as HIV/AIDS during the previous three years, reveals the WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024.  

India with 26% TB cases, leads the list of 30 high-burden countries. Alongside Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), Philippines (6.8%) and Pakistan (6.3%), these nations account for 56% of the global TB burden. According to the report, 55% of people who developed TB were men, 33% were women and 12% were children and young adolescents.

While the number of TB-related deaths decreased from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the total number of people falling ill with TB rose slightly to an estimated 10.8 million in 2023 - the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995. This represents a notable increase from 7.5 million reported in 2022.

The report says more than 10  million people continue to fall ill with TB every year and the number has been rising since 2021. “Urgent action is required to end the global TB epidemic by 2030, a goal that has been adopted by all Member States of the United Nations (UN) and the WHO,” the WHO says.

TB is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread when people who are sick with TB expel bacteria into the air (e.g. by coughing). About a quarter of the global population is estimated to have been infected with TB. 

Following infection, the risk of developing TB disease is highest in the first 2 years (approximately 5%), after which it is much lower. The disease typically affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can affect other sites as well.

Without treatment, the death rate from TB disease is close to 50%. With treatments currently recommended by WHO comprising a course of anti-TB drugs for 4–6 months, about 85% of people with TB can be cured. Regimens of 1–6 months are available to treat TB infection. 

WHO has published a global TB report every year since 1997. Its main purpose is to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the status of the TB epidemic and progress in the response at global, regional and national levels, in the context of global TB commitments, strategies and targets. 

“The fact that TB still kills and sickens so many people is an outrage, when we have the tools to prevent it, detect it and treat it,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO urges all countries to make good on the concrete commitments they have made to expand the use of those tools, and to end TB.”

In 2023, Tuberculosis (TB) reclaimed its position as the world’s leading cause of death, surpassing COVID-19, which had caused almost twice as many fatalities as HIV/AIDS during the previous three years, reveals the WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024.  

India with 26% TB cases, leads the list of 30 high-burden countries. Alongside Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), Philippines (6.8%) and Pakistan (6.3%), these nations account for 56% of the global TB burden. According to the report, 55% of people who developed TB were men, 33% were women and 12% were children and young adolescents.

While the number of TB-related deaths decreased from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the total number of people falling ill with TB rose slightly to an estimated 10.8 million in 2023 - the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995. This represents a notable increase from 7.5 million reported in 2022.

The report says more than 10  million people continue to fall ill with TB every year and the number has been rising since 2021. “Urgent action is required to end the global TB epidemic by 2030, a goal that has been adopted by all Member States of the United Nations (UN) and the WHO,” the WHO says.

TB is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread when people who are sick with TB expel bacteria into the air (e.g. by coughing). About a quarter of the global population is estimated to have been infected with TB. 

Following infection, the risk of developing TB disease is highest in the first 2 years (approximately 5%), after which it is much lower. The disease typically affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can affect other sites as well.

Without treatment, the death rate from TB disease is close to 50%. With treatments currently recommended by WHO comprising a course of anti-TB drugs for 4–6 months, about 85% of people with TB can be cured. Regimens of 1–6 months are available to treat TB infection. 

WHO has published a global TB report every year since 1997. Its main purpose is to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the status of the TB epidemic and progress in the response at global, regional and national levels, in the context of global TB commitments, strategies and targets. 

“The fact that TB still kills and sickens so many people is an outrage, when we have the tools to prevent it, detect it and treat it,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO urges all countries to make good on the concrete commitments they have made to expand the use of those tools, and to end TB.”

Also read: Fact-check: Expert take on 6 tuberculosis myths - First Check