A report released on World Tuberculosis Day (March 24) by the WHO indicates that an average of 1.6 million people die from tuberculosis each year.
This figure surpasses the number of deaths from another frightening respiratory illness today—COVID-19—where current death reports have fallen below 10,000 cases per week.
More concerning, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the COVID-19 pandemic, along with ongoing crises such as conflict, food insecurity, and climate change, has reversed years of progress in the fight against tuberculosis, making 2022 the first year in nearly two decades where both the incidence and mortality rates of the disease increased, as well as cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
A tuberculosis case in the United States – (Photo: CDC).
This report aligns with a nearly concurrent warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), showing that tuberculosis cases in the U.S. have risen by 5% this year, marking the second consecutive year of increases.
According to the CDC, the most alarming increase is occurring among high-risk groups, including children under 4 years old.
Dr. Tedros emphasized: “Tuberculosis is preventable, treatable, and curable, yet this ancient disease that has plagued humanity for millennia continues to cause suffering and death for millions each year.”
Currently, tuberculosis can be effectively prevented with the BCG vaccine (administered to newborns). However, like other vaccines, the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered vaccination progress in many countries. Additionally, this vaccine is not very effective if administered to adolescents and adults who missed their first vaccination dose.
As a result, the WHO Director-General’s flagship initiative on tuberculosis for the period of 2023 to 2027 (DG Flagship) is calling for strong international collaboration and multisectoral cooperation, including the promotion of new vaccine research and efforts to expand the scope and capacity for treatment, especially for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
In September 2023, the United Nations General Assembly will convene three high-level meetings focusing on universal health coverage (UHC), pandemic preparedness and response, and ending tuberculosis. There is a clear connection between these agendas, and national leaders will be encouraged to consider accelerating action, including the goal of ending tuberculosis.
