Kluge states: "The elimination of tuberculosis is not a dream, it is a choice. Unfortunately, the current burden of tuberculosis and the worrying increase in the number of tuberculosis-infected children remind us that progress in tackling this preventable and treatable disease remains fragile."
Tuberculosis (TB) cases among children under 15 years old in Europe rose by over 650 in 2023 compared to 2022, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
“The elimination of tuberculosis is not a dream; it is a choice. Unfortunately, the current burden of tuberculosis and the worrying increase in the number of tuberculosis-infected children remind us that progress in tackling this preventable and treatable disease remains fragile," said Hans Kluge, the WHO Regional Director.
The report indicated that in 2023, children under 15 represented nearly 4.5% of new tuberculosis cases in Europe, with a nearly 10% increase in cases among this age group compared to the previous year. More than 2,400 of the reported TB cases among children under 15 were among those under 5, who are at higher risk of serious illness and death.
Health organizations noted that multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains a challenge in the region, with treatment success rates for MDR-TB patients dropping from 75.5 percent to 59.7 percent. Medical professionals are alarmed as the number of new tuberculosis cases reached a peak of 10.8 million globally, with a 10% increase in cases reported in 2023. In Europe, 39,000 tuberculosis cases were recorded in the European Union and the European Economic Area in 2023, about 2,000 more than the previous year.
Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Director of the ECDC, emphasized the urgency of the situation. "The time to act to end TB is now. With just five years to meet our 2030 targets, it is critical that Europe renews its focus on prevention and timely, effective treatment," she stated.
Authorities stressed the importance of expanding access to effective treatments, emphasizing the need for "shorter, fully oral treatment regimens, which have shown promise in improving outcomes for patients with drug-resistant TB." Askar Yedilbayev, regional TB advisor for WHO's European region, described the increase in tuberculosis cases among children as a "worrisome scenario," highlighting the urgency due to ongoing transmission. He noted that the rise in overall TB cases might indicate improved diagnoses.
The WHO Regional Office for Europe and the ECDC underscored the need to intensify efforts to detect and treat tuberculosis, including strengthening TB testing and ensuring that preventive treatments are available to all those at risk. Health agencies indicated that immediate public health measures are essential to control and reduce the increasing burden of tuberculosis.
Further concerns were raised about the impact of funding cuts on TB control efforts. The World Health Organization warned that abrupt cuts in global health funding are threatening progress in the fight against tuberculosis, with nearly thirty countries in regions like Africa and Asia already suffering "devastating collapses" of their prevention systems due to these funding cuts.
"Even before the recent reductions in international development aid, the world was facing an $11 billion shortfall in the global fight against tuberculosis," stated Dr. Kluge. The WHO noted that approximately 1.5 million people still die from TB every year, bringing devastating impacts on families and communities.
"With the increase in drug resistance, the cost of inaction today will be paid by all of us tomorrow," warned Rendi-Wagner. The WHO called for a global commitment in the fight against tuberculosis, emphasizing the need to uphold the commitments made by world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
TB, an airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mostly affects the lungs and spreads primarily through tiny droplets when coughing, speaking, or sneezing. There are increasing concerns about drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), which can result from interrupted treatment and has a treatment success rate below 60 percent.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.