Global tuberculosis deaths and incidence rise during pandemic
WHO reports a 4.5% increase in tuberculosis cases in 2021, marking the first rise in years as pandemic disruptions hampered detection and treatment.
Global progress in combating tuberculosis (TB) has suffered a setback, with incidence and mortality rising significantly during 2021. According to the World Health Organization’s latest report, an estimated 10.6 million people contracted the disease, while 1.6 million deaths were recorded, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of health services.
Diagnostic gaps remain a critical concern, with pre-pandemic treatment levels still unmet. The shortfall in diagnosis has resulted in more undiagnosed, untreated cases, which drives further community transmission. Additionally, drug-resistant TB cases grew by 3%, signaling a challenging trend for public health systems already strained by regional conflicts and economic instability.
Financial support for essential TB services declined to $5.4 billion in 2021, falling far short of the $13 billion annual goal established for 2022. While some countries have seen improvements in preventative treatment uptake and rapid diagnostic testing, international health officials emphasize that urgent redoubling of efforts is necessary to reverse these trends.