WHO Reports 1.23 Million Deaths from Tuberculosis in 2024: Progress and Challenges in Fighting World's Deadliest Infectious Disease

Tuberculosis continues to be the world's deadliest infectious disease according to recent data.

The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed on Wednesday that tuberculosis (TB) claimed approximately 1.23 million lives in 2024, maintaining its position as the leading infectious killer globally. This represents a three percent reduction compared to 2023, with overall case numbers declining by nearly two percent. WHO data indicates that 10.7 million individuals contracted TB last year, comprising 5.8 million men, 3.7 million women, and 1.2 million children.

TB is an airborne disease transmitted through respiratory droplets when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit. While primarily affecting the lungs, TB is both preventable and curable. WHO official Tereza Kasaeva highlighted that this recent decline marks the first reduction in both TB cases and fatalities since COVID-19 disrupted healthcare services worldwide.

Despite this positive trend, progress remains threatened by insufficient funding. Only $5.9 billion was allocated for TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment initiatives last year, significantly below the $22 billion annual target established for 2027. Kasaeva emphasized the necessity for enhanced political commitment, sustained financial investment, and international collaboration to eliminate TB.

WHO statistics show that India carries the largest burden, accounting for 25 percent of global cases, followed by Indonesia (10 percent), the Philippines (6.8 percent), China (6.5 percent), and Pakistan (6.3 percent). Major risk factors include malnutrition, HIV co-infection, diabetes, tobacco use, and alcohol disorders. In 2024, TB caused 150,000 deaths among people living with HIV.

Encouraging developments include a record-breaking 8.3 million new diagnoses and treatments, with treatment success rates improving to 71 percent. Since 2000, timely intervention has saved approximately 83 million lives. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that over one million annual deaths from a treatable disease remains unacceptable.

Research advancements offer hope, with 63 diagnostic tests, 29 medications, and 18 vaccines currently in development, including six vaccines in final-stage trials. The Global Fund highlighted promising innovations such as shorter treatment regimens, improved prevention strategies, and artificial intelligence tools for quicker detection, particularly in resource-limited settings.