Fewer new tuberculosis infections, but WHO warns of lack of funds

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported significant progress in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB), with the number of new cases recorded last year declining for the first time since 2020. This encouraging development was announced in Geneva on Wednesday. However, the organization issued a stark warning that the cancellation of vital aid funds could severely jeopardize and reverse this positive trend.

According to the latest WHO report, approximately 10.7 million people contracted tuberculosis in 2024, marking a 1% reduction from the previous year. The incidence rate, which measures how many out of 100,000 people contract the disease, also saw a notable decrease of 1.7%. Despite these gains, tuberculosis regrettably remains one of the top ten leading causes of death globally.

The WHO's annual TB report further detailed that 1.23 million people died from this bacterial disease last year. Tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs and is typically transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. While most individuals can be cured with appropriate treatment, nearly half of those infected will die without it, according to WHO data.