What's happened
Tuberculosis (TB) has officially become the leading infectious disease killer globally, surpassing COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 1.25 million TB deaths in 2023, with infections rising to 10.8 million. The report highlights ongoing challenges in eradicating the disease, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the Associated Press, TB has returned as the leading infectious disease killer, with 1.25 million deaths reported in 2023, nearly double the number of HIV-related deaths. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "The fact that TB still kills and sickens so many people is an outrage, when we have the tools to prevent it, detect it and treat it." The Independent highlights that TB primarily affects regions in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Western Pacific, with India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan accounting for over half of global cases. All Africa notes that while TB deaths decreased from 1.32 million in 2022, the number of new infections rose, indicating mixed progress in the fight against the disease. The report emphasizes the urgent need for increased funding and resources to address the TB crisis effectively.
How we got here
TB was previously overshadowed by COVID-19 during the pandemic. However, recent WHO data indicates a resurgence, with TB deaths and infections rising despite some progress in treatment and diagnosis. The disease predominantly affects low- and middle-income countries.
Common question
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Why has tuberculosis become the leading infectious disease killer?
Tuberculosis (TB) has recently surpassed COVID-19 as the leading infectious disease killer worldwide, raising urgent questions about global health priorities. With 1.25 million deaths reported in 2023, the resurgence of TB highlights significant challenges in public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Below, we explore key questions surrounding this alarming trend.
More on these topics
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The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states its main objective as "the attainment
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The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.