Tuberculosis cases hit record 8.2 million high in 2023: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a record 8.2 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) in 2023, surpassing the previous year's count. This alarming increase has led to 1.25 million deaths, a decline from the 1.32 million reported in the previous year. The TB incidence rate has risen to 134 new cases per 100,000 people, with a 0.2% increase rate. A total of 30 countries are burdened with high TB cases, with India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan accounting for half of the total cases. The gender breakdown shows that 55% of cases are men, 33% are women, and 12% are children and young adolescents. The main risk factors contributing to TB include undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, diabetes, and smoking. The WHO has set a funding target of $22 billion to combat TB, but only $5.7 billion is currently available. This significant gap in funding highlights the need for increased support to tackle the growing TB epidemic.