Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.paho.org/en/news/1-11-2024-tuberculosis-resurges-top-infectious-disease-killer
Tuberculosis resurges as top infectious disease killer
1 Nov 2024
New global report shows that while cases continue to rise in the Americas, improvements in diagnosis and treatment are helping to reduce deaths
1 November 2024 – The World Health Organization (WHO) published a new report on tuberculosis (TB) revealing that globally, approximately 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023 - the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995. This represents a notable increase from 7.5 million reported in 2022 placing TB again as the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing COVID-19.
The WHO 2024 Global Tuberculosis Report highlights mixed progress in the global fight against TB, including persistent challenges such as significant underfunding.
In the Americas, while an estimated 342,000 people were diagnosed with TB in 2023, a 6.6% increase from the previous year, the number of people that died as a result of the disease has begun to decline, by 5.4% from 2022-2023
This reduction is due to an increase in the number of people diagnosed and treated – from 76% in 2022 to 78% in 2023.
The report shows that the disease disproportionately affects people in 30 high-burden countries, India (26%), Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%) and Pakistan (6.3%) together accounted for 56% of global TB burden. In the Americas, eight countries account for 80% of TB cases in the Region while others, particularly in the Caribbean region, have reduced incidence to low levels and some are close to the threshold for disease elimination.
According to the report, 55% of people who developed TB were men, 33% were women and 12% were children and young adolescents....
Tuberculosis resurges as top infectious disease killer
1 Nov 2024
New global report shows that while cases continue to rise in the Americas, improvements in diagnosis and treatment are helping to reduce deaths
1 November 2024 – The World Health Organization (WHO) published a new report on tuberculosis (TB) revealing that globally, approximately 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023 - the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995. This represents a notable increase from 7.5 million reported in 2022 placing TB again as the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing COVID-19.
The WHO 2024 Global Tuberculosis Report highlights mixed progress in the global fight against TB, including persistent challenges such as significant underfunding.
In the Americas, while an estimated 342,000 people were diagnosed with TB in 2023, a 6.6% increase from the previous year, the number of people that died as a result of the disease has begun to decline, by 5.4% from 2022-2023
This reduction is due to an increase in the number of people diagnosed and treated – from 76% in 2022 to 78% in 2023.
The report shows that the disease disproportionately affects people in 30 high-burden countries, India (26%), Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%) and Pakistan (6.3%) together accounted for 56% of global TB burden. In the Americas, eight countries account for 80% of TB cases in the Region while others, particularly in the Caribbean region, have reduced incidence to low levels and some are close to the threshold for disease elimination.
According to the report, 55% of people who developed TB were men, 33% were women and 12% were children and young adolescents....
