Tuberculosis deaths fall for the first time since the pandemic, but funding gaps threaten future progress.
Tuberculosis (TB) killed an estimated 1.23 million people in 2024, a 3 percent drop from the previous year — marking the first decline in global cases and deaths since COVID-19 disrupted health systems. Yet the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that these gains are fragile as international funding collapses, especially following major US aid cuts.
TB Declines for the First Time in Years
WHO’s annual TB report revealed that cases fell nearly 2 percent, with 10.7 million people becoming ill in 2024. A record 8.3 million newly diagnosed patients accessed treatment, and global treatment success rose from 68 to 71 percent — the highest rate since before the pandemic.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the turnaround was encouraging but warned that “progress is not victory,” noting that TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease.
Funding Collapse Threatens Decades of Progress
Despite improving outcomes, TB programs received only US$5.9 billion in 2024 — far below the US$22 billion target for 2027. According to WHO, cuts in international donor support could trigger up to 2 million additional deaths and 10 million new cases between 2025 and 2035.
The agency was struck by a 21 percent spending reduction after the United States withdrew from WHO in January. Additional foreign aid cuts ordered by President Donald Trump have intensified concerns among global health organisations.
Countries Bearing the Heaviest Burden
TB continues to hit some nations disproportionately. WHO data shows:
- India: 25% of global cases
- Indonesia: 10%
- Philippines: 6.8%
- China: 6.5%
- Pakistan: 6.3%
Undernutrition, HIV, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol disorders remain major risk factors. In 2024 alone, 150,000 people with HIV died of TB-related complications.
Research and Innovation Offer Hope
Promising breakthroughs are underway. Across the pipeline, 63 diagnostic tools, 29 drugs, and 18 vaccines are in development — including six vaccines in late-stage trials. The Global Fund highlighted new shorter treatment regimens, expanded prevention strategies, and AI-powered diagnostic tools suited for low-resource environments.
WHO Warns of “Unconscionable” Death Toll
While TB deaths have dropped 29 percent since 2015, the world is far off the WHO’s goal of reducing deaths by 75 percent by 2025 and 90 percent by 2030. Tedros called the loss of over one million lives to a preventable, curable disease “simply unconscionable.”
Tereza Kasaeva, head of WHO’s TB division, cautioned that without renewed political commitment, the world risks reversing “hard-won gains” and returning to pre-pandemic mortality levels.
The decline in TB deaths signals long-awaited recovery after pandemic setbacks, but the widening funding gap threatens to undermine progress across Asia, Africa, and other high-burden regions. With Indonesia among the most affected countries, and global resources shrinking, the world’s ability to contain TB now hinges on urgent political will, sustained financing, and rapid deployment of new scientific tools.
Sources: Al Jazeera (2025) , NDTV (2025)
Keywords: TB Deaths 2024, WHO Report, Funding Shortfall, Global Health Crisis, Infectious Disease Trends
