WHO: Tuberculosis Surpasses COVID-19 as Top Infectious Killer; 8.2 Million Cases Hit Record High Since 1995

Oct 29, 2024, 05:45 PM

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Tuberculosis (TB) has reclaimed its position as the world's leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing COVID-19. Approximately 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023, the highest number recorded since global monitoring began in 1995. Although TB-related deaths decreased slightly from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the total number of people falling ill with the disease rose to an estimated 10.8 million. Multidrug-resistant TB remains a significant public health crisis, with treatment success rates reaching 68%. However, only 44% of the estimated 400,000 people with multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB were diagnosed and treated in 2023. Five countries accounted for 56% of the global TB burden: India (26%), Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%), and Pakistan (6.3%). The Philippines, facing one of the world's highest TB burdens, accounts for 7% of global cases, according to Maria Rosario Vergeire, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Health. Risk factors driving the TB burden include undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking, and diabetes. Additionally, half of TB-affected households in low- and middle-income countries face catastrophic costs exceeding 20% of annual household income in accessing diagnosis and treatment.