Tuberculosis Surpasses COVID-19 as Leading Global Infectious Disease Killer

Tuberculosis Surpasses COVID-19 as Leading Global Infectious Disease Killer

1 minute read
Updated 8 months ago

Rising TB Cases and Global Response

The (WHO) reports a record high of 8.2 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2023, marking the highest since monitoring began in 1995, with TB reclaiming its title as the leading infectious disease killer globally, surpassing .

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes the urgency of utilizing existing tools for prevention, detection, and treatment to combat TB, urging countries to fulfill their commitments.

Challenges and Progress in TB Control

Despite a slight decrease in TB-related deaths from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the disease remains a significant global health challenge, with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) posing a critical concern.

The WHO highlights major risk factors driving new TB cases, including undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking, and diabetes, while global funding remains a significant barrier to effective TB prevention and care.
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