Tuberculosis Reclaims Position as Top Infectious Disease, WHO Reports

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday, October 30th, that tuberculosis (TB) has likely returned as the world’s leading infectious disease killer, surpassing HIV. The WHO’s latest report revealed that over 8 million people were diagnosed with TB in the past year, marking the highest annual count since record-keeping began. TB claimed approximately 1.25 million lives globally, double the fatalities caused by HIV. The increase underscores persistent challenges in controlling TB, especially in high-burden areas like Southeast Asia and Africa.

TB primarily impacts the lungs and is transmitted through airborne bacteria. Though roughly a quarter of the global population harbors the bacteria, only 5-10% of infected individuals exhibit symptoms. Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Western Pacific regions accounted for the majority of cases, with India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan being the most affected. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed frustration, noting, “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.”

While the number of TB-related deaths has been decreasing gradually, the incidence rate remains concerningly high, with about 400,000 cases of drug-resistant TB globally. Drug-resistant TB poses significant treatment challenges, with fewer than half of affected individuals receiving the care they need. Advocacy groups like Doctors Without Borders have urged pharmaceutical companies, including U.S.-based Cepheid, to reduce the cost of TB tests to improve accessibility in low-income countries.

COVID-19 had previously overtaken TB as the leading cause of infectious disease deaths, but with the pandemic’s effects waning, TB has resumed its lethal impact worldwide. The WHO emphasized the need for increased diagnostic capabilities, as most infections remain undiagnosed due to high testing costs and limited access to healthcare in poorer regions. Efforts to expand affordable testing are seen as critical in reversing the current trend.

The WHO continues to push for a more accessible healthcare approach, focusing on improved diagnostic technologies and widespread treatment availability. Global health advocates argue that with affordable tests and treatments, TB can be brought under control, especially in vulnerable communities. Calls for corporate responsibility have intensified, with over 150 health organizations demanding that testing be made widely affordable.

The resurgence of TB as the world’s deadliest infectious disease underscores the need for coordinated global action and sustained healthcare support, particularly in developing nations.