The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded a record 8.2 million new cases of tuberculosis in 2023, the highest since tracking began in 1995.
This significant increase, which exceeds the 7.5 million cases reported in 2022, reestablishes tuberculosis as the leading infectious cause of mortality in the world, thus ahead of Covid-19. The WHO annual report deplores “mixed progress” in the fight against the disease, in particular because of persistent underfinancing which complicates the efforts deployed. Although TB-related deaths have declined slightly from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the Organization estimates that the actual number of people affected could reach 10.8 million, well beyond officially diagnosed cases. The WHO attributes this increase partially to population growth, with an incidence rate of 134 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023. Most new cases are concentrated in 30 countries, five of which together represent 56% of the global total: l India (26%), Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), Philippines (6.8%) and Pakistan (6.3%). In terms of distribution by gender and age, 55% of patients are men, 33% are women and 12% are children or young adolescents.
Progress continues in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-RR), with a success rate now reaching 68%, up from 64% observed in 2020. However, of the estimated 400,000 cases of MDR-TB -RR, only 44% were diagnosed and treated, illustrating continued challenges in detection and care.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlights the urgency of the situation and calls on governments around the world to step up their efforts. He urges them to respect their commitments to expand access to treatment, improve health infrastructure and strengthen the fight against this persistent epidemic, despite the medical tools available that allow the prevention, detection and treatment of tuberculosis.
