WHO reports 1.23 million TB deaths in 2024, a 3% decline
The World Health Organization announced on Wednesday that tuberculosis claimed 1.23 million lives in 2024, marking a 3 percent reduction compared with the previous year. The figure was released in the agency's annual Global Tuberculosis Report, which provides the most comprehensive assessment of the disease's worldwide impact.
Despite the modest decline, tuberculosis remains the leading infectious killer, surpassing HIV/AIDS and ranking among the top ten causes of death globally. In 2020, the pandemic disrupted health services and slowed progress, causing a temporary rise in TB mortality. Since then, coordinated public‑health efforts have helped reverse that trend, though the disease still accounts for roughly one death every 27 seconds.
The report attributes the recent improvement to expanded access to rapid diagnostic tools, increased availability of short‑course treatment regimens, and renewed funding from international donors and national governments. Many countries have strengthened contact‑tracing programs and integrated TB screening into primary‑care services, which together have accelerated case detection and reduced transmission. Additionally, the rollout of newer, all‑oral drug combinations has improved treatment adherence, particularly in regions with high rates of drug‑resistant TB.
Nevertheless, experts caution that the gains are fragile. Multidrug‑resistant and extensively drug‑resistant TB continue to pose significant challenges, especially in parts of Eastern Europe, South Asia, and sub‑Saharan Africa. The WHO emphasizes the need for sustained investment in vaccine research, as the only currently available vaccine, BCG, offers limited protection against pulmonary TB in adults. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to the End TB Strategy, which aims to cut TB deaths by 95 percent and reduce incidence by 90 percent by 2035.
Looking ahead, the WHO plans to monitor progress closely and encourage countries to adopt digital health solutions, strengthen health‑system resilience, and expand community‑based care. Policymakers are urged to prioritize TB in national health agendas and to ensure that financing mechanisms are robust enough to meet the ambitious targets set for the coming decade.
