Tuberculosis Surpasses COVID-19 as Leading Infectious Disease Killer, Reports WHO

In 2023, tuberculosis (TB) overtook COVID-19 as the primary cause of infectious disease-related deaths globally, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report, published on Tuesday, underscores the challenges in eradicating TB despite global efforts.

WHO’s data reveals that last year saw approximately 8.2 million new TB diagnoses, enabling more people than ever to access effective treatment. This figure marks the highest since WHO began its global TB monitoring in 1995 and represents a notable increase from the 7.5 million cases reported in 2022.

While deaths linked to TB dropped slightly to 1.25 million in 2023 from 1.32 million in the previous year, the total number of people diagnosed rose marginally to an estimated 10.8 million. These statistics highlight that, despite progress, the global fight against TB continues to face obstacles, with funding shortages posing a significant challenge to eradication efforts.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, expressed frustration, saying, “It is unacceptable that TB still claims so many lives and sickens so many, especially when we have the means to prevent, detect, and treat it.”

The report emphasized that current milestones and global targets for reducing the TB burden are behind schedule. Substantial progress is required to meet additional targets set for 2027, and low- and middle-income countries, which bear 98% of the TB burden, are facing severe funding gaps.

On a positive note, the disparity between estimated TB cases and those reported has narrowed to about 2.7 million in 2023, a significant improvement from the peak of approximately 4 million during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. However, the multidrug-resistant form of TB remains a public health crisis, the WHO noted.

WHO’s Approach to Tackling TB

The WHO is intensifying efforts with countries, partners, and civil society to enhance TB response. The organization’s approach is focused on six core actions to meet the goals outlined in the 2023 UN high-level meeting’s political declaration, Sustainable Development Goals, End TB Strategy, and WHO’s strategic priorities:

1. Providing Global Leadership: WHO is leading the charge to end TB through strategic planning, political and cross-sector engagement, strengthened accountability, advocacy, and partnerships with civil society.

2. Driving TB Research and Innovation: WHO is shaping the global TB research agenda, encouraging the generation, translation, and dissemination of new knowledge to combat TB effectively.

3. Setting Standards for Prevention and Care: WHO establishes and promotes evidence-based norms and standards for TB prevention and care, facilitating their global adoption and implementation.

4. Developing Policy Options: The organization advocates for ethical, data-driven policy solutions for TB prevention and treatment, helping countries adopt effective measures.

5. Providing Technical Support: WHO works with regional and country offices to deliver specialized technical support, driving change and building sustainable healthcare capacity at local levels.

6. Monitoring and Reporting: WHO monitors and reports on TB epidemic status, financing, and the progress of response strategies at global, regional, and national levels.

Despite the challenges, WHO remains committed to ending TB through collaboration, sustained effort, and strategic intervention to achieve the global targets and improve health outcomes worldwide.