The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released its Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2024, a comprehensive analysis highlighting an urgent statement: TB continues to be the world’s leading infectious disease killer, surpassing COVID-19. This renewed urgency is underpinned by alarming statistics:
TB causes at least 2 deaths per minute, remaining the top killer among people with HIV and poses a significant threat in antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
In light of these findings, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation invites to explore the full report to understand the current trajectory of the TB epidemic and what is still needed to tackle it.
TB continues to be the world’s leading infectious disease killer: key highlights from the WHO Global TB Report 2024
The report reveals that in 2023, an estimated 10.8 million people worldwide fell ill with TB.
The number of people who died because of TB reduced slightly, from 1.32 million to 1.25 million deaths, including 161,000 among people living with HIV. The report highlights the importance of focusing interventions in high burden-areas, particularly in the eight countries that account for more than two-thirds of the global TB cases: India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Global efforts have saved approximately 79 million lives since 2000, yet a stark gap in diagnosis persists: 2.7 million people with TB went undiagnosed in 2023 alone.
This gap is a critical challenge, exacerbated by COVID-related disruptions that delayed diagnosis and treatment. People with TB who are not reached timely by the health systems, remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated. This factor has a share in the mortality numbers associated with TB. Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) also remains a pressing public health crisis, with 400,000 people developing multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in 2023 but only a fraction receiving timely treatment. Improving detection and treatment of drug-resistant TB is essential for global health security.
TB preventive treatment, diagnostics and new regimens in 2023
On a positive note, the report indicates advancements in TB preventive treatments (TPT), particularly among household contacts of confirmed cases. However, significant progress is still required to meet the global target of 90% coverage by 2027. WHO also notes limited access to rapid diagnostic tools and calls for increased implementation of molecular tests to ensure timely and accurate TB diagnoses. With the introduction and roll-out of shorter, all-oral 6-month BPaLM/BPaL regimens, WHO reports an increase in the uptake of said regimens in 17 countries more than the previous period, accounting for 58 countries using the regimen to treat people with MDR/RR-TB or pre-XDR-TB.
A call from KNCV
From KNCV we extend our deepest thanks to all frontline healthcare workers, partners, and donors for the invaluable progress made in TB prevention and care as reported by WHO.
“Ending TB will require accelerated action in areas such as vaccine development, TB preventive treatment coverage, access to point-of-care-diagnostics, and funding,” says KNCV’s Executive Director Dr. Mustapha Gidado. He calls on global health leaders and governments to intensify investments and innovative strategies to achieve the targets set forth in the UN High-Level Meeting declaration on TB in 2023.
The Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 underscores that while progress has been made, the pace of advancement must increase dramatically. This report is more than a summary; it’s a roadmap for the urgent measures needed to counteract TB’s deadly toll. To meet these goals, Dr. Gidado calls urgently on governments, global health leaders, and stakeholders to commit more resources, accelerate innovation, and strengthen our collective resolve.
Together, let’s ensure that the fight against TB gains the momentum it critically needs—because lives depend on it.
Access the report here.