The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified Nigeria and seven other nations as responsible for over 67 percent of global Tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2023. According to WHO’s recently released Global TB Report 2024, the country contributed 4.6 percent to the worldwide TB cases, a notable percentage that underscores the nation’s ongoing Public Health challenges. Among the other countries exhibiting similarly increased rates of TB, India stands out as the leader, accounting for 26 percent of global cases. Indonesia comes next with 10 percent, while China and the Philippines contribute 6.8 percent each. Pakistan is at 6.3 percent, followed by Bangladesh at 3.5 percent, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 3.1 percent.
These countries account for over 67 percent of global TB cases, indicating the uneven spread of this infectious disease in certain regions. This leads to notable challenges in both Asia and Africa. According to the report, which draws on comprehensive information collected from health agencies worldwide, there have been alarming patterns in Tuberculosis incidence. Between 2010 and 2020, global TB rates decreased steadily by roughly 2 percent annually. Meanwhile, the latest data indicate a troubling shift, showing a 4.6 percent increase in incidence between 2020 and 2023.
COVID-19 contributed to the rise in tuberculosis cases worldwide.
Furthermore, the increase, rising from 129 to 134 new cases per 100,000 individuals each year, can be partly linked to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis put immense pressure on healthcare systems and hindered disease monitoring and treatment initiatives. In terms of geographic distribution, the data indicates that in 2023, the majority of tuberculosis cases were concentrated in three main regions, including the Southeast Asia region, which represented 45 percent of all cases, followed by the African region at 24 percent, and the Western Pacific region at 17 percent. The Eastern Mediterranean accounted for a smaller share of 8.6 percent, while the Americas contributed 3.2 percent, and Europe accounted for just 2.1 percent.
Also, the emphasis on Southeast Asia and Africa underscores how severely tuberculosis affects low- and middle-income nations, where healthcare systems and resources frequently fall short. The document highlights 30 nations recognised as having a major burden of tuberculosis, collectively making up 87 percent of worldwide tuberculosis instances. Among these countries, eight are the most impacted, comprising over 67 percent of the global population. In 2023, the top five nations, India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan, represented 56 percent of the global tuberculosis burden.
Thirteen countries achieved a 50% reduction from 2015 to 2023.
Although tuberculosis remains high, the World Health Organization emphasised that Nigeria and twelve additional countries have made remarkable advancements, reducing TB cases by at least 50 percent from 2015 to 2023. This decline highlights the effectiveness of enhanced TB management strategies and healthcare measures in these regions. By September 2024, thirteen nations showed a keen interest in conducting national surveys to assess the prevalence of tuberculosis. These assessments play a crucial role in revealing the true incidence of tuberculosis and informing policy measures to address this ongoing health challenge effectively.
Moreover, the World Health Organization reports that tuberculosis case notifications have either returned to or surpassed pre-pandemic figures in most of the 30 countries heavily impacted by tuberculosis and in three other nations on the global tuberculosis watchlist. However, Angola, Lesotho, Liberia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Zimbabwe are significant exceptions, as they have yet to achieve these levels. Meanwhile, India’s and Indonesia’s efforts have played an essential role in the rise of tuberculosis case notifications, making up a large portion of the worldwide increase in tuberculosis diagnoses observed in 2022 and 2023.
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On the other hand, the WHO analysis emphasised the critical need for notable health funding, particularly in nations with high disease burdens, to attain Universal Health Coverage (UCH) and maintain advancements against tuberculosis. Successfully tackling tuberculosis demands a robust healthcare system, improved diagnostic methods, better treatment centres, and ongoing sensitisation in identifying cases, especially in countries facing healthcare challenges. Tuberculosis continues to pose a major public health issue around the globe. While it mainly targets the respiratory system, it readily transmits through airborne particles released when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk.