WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2024: Key Insights

The WHO’s 2024 Global TB Report highlights significant trends and data on the global burden of tuberculosis (TB), particularly underscoring India’s position as the country with the highest TB burden in 2023.

Global Highlights

1. New Diagnoses: In 2023, a record 8.2 million new TB cases were identified, marking the highest number since the WHO started tracking global TB data in 1995.
2. TB Deaths: TB-related deaths stood at 1.25 million in 2023, a slight decrease from 1.32 million in 2022. Nevertheless, TB mortality remains much higher than COVID-19 fatalities, which totaled 320,000 globally in 2023.
3. Prevalence Concentration: TB cases are heavily concentrated, with 87% of the global burden borne by 30 mostly low- and middle-income countries. India alone accounted for 26% of all cases, while Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan together added up to 56%.
4. Risk Factors: The report identifies five major risk factors contributing to TB prevalence globally: undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking, and diabetes.

India’s TB Statistics

1. Estimated TB Cases: India had approximately 2.7 million (27 lakh) TB cases in 2023, with 2.51 million (25.1 lakh) of these cases diagnosed and started on treatment.
2. Improved Treatment Coverage: Treatment coverage in India has seen a substantial increase, reaching 89% in 2023, up from 72% in 2015. This improvement has significantly reduced the number of undiagnosed or missing cases.
3. Decline in TB Incidence: The TB incidence rate in India decreased from 237 cases per 100,000 population in 2015 to 195 per 100,000 in 2023, representing a 17.7% decline over this period.

Observations and Implications

India’s ongoing efforts to reduce TB prevalence and improve treatment accessibility have yielded progress, as indicated by the rise in treatment coverage and the reduction in incidence rates. However, the persistence of high TB mortality rates, combined with significant global risk factors like undernutrition and HIV, indicates that more robust public health measures are still necessary to achieve WHO’s End TB Strategy goals.