TB Deaths Hit Record Low, But Progress Under Threat Due to Funding Shortfalls
According to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis claimed the lives of approximately 1.23 million people in 2024, a decline of three percent from the previous year. This represents the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that TB cases and deaths have decreased.
The WHO also reported a two percent drop in TB cases globally, with nearly eight million new patients seeking treatment for the disease last year. Treatment success rates rose to 71%, up from 68% in 2023.
However, despite these positive trends, the WHO warned that recent progress in tackling TB is at risk due to significant funding shortfalls. The agency has struggled to meet its annual target of $22 billion by 2027, with only $5.9 billion available for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment last year.
According to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the shortfall in aid could "reverse the hard-won gains" made in reducing TB cases and deaths. The agency's director of tuberculosis, HIV, and related infections, Tereza Kasaeva, warned that long-term cuts in international donor funding could lead to up to 2 million additional deaths and 10 million people falling ill with TB between 2025 and 2035.
The US Agency for International Development has also been significantly impacted by the withdrawal of the United States from the WHO, forcing a 21% cut to its proposed spending. This move has raised concerns about global TB treatment and access to life-saving services.
According to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis claimed the lives of approximately 1.23 million people in 2024, a decline of three percent from the previous year. This represents the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that TB cases and deaths have decreased.
The WHO also reported a two percent drop in TB cases globally, with nearly eight million new patients seeking treatment for the disease last year. Treatment success rates rose to 71%, up from 68% in 2023.
However, despite these positive trends, the WHO warned that recent progress in tackling TB is at risk due to significant funding shortfalls. The agency has struggled to meet its annual target of $22 billion by 2027, with only $5.9 billion available for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment last year.
According to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the shortfall in aid could "reverse the hard-won gains" made in reducing TB cases and deaths. The agency's director of tuberculosis, HIV, and related infections, Tereza Kasaeva, warned that long-term cuts in international donor funding could lead to up to 2 million additional deaths and 10 million people falling ill with TB between 2025 and 2035.
The US Agency for International Development has also been significantly impacted by the withdrawal of the United States from the WHO, forcing a 21% cut to its proposed spending. This move has raised concerns about global TB treatment and access to life-saving services.
Funding shortfalls are a major concern here. I mean, $5.9 billion is barely enough to cover the costs of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It's like trying to put out a fire with a damp sponge. If we can't secure more funding, how can we expect to sustain these gains? And what about the US pulling out of WHO? That's like cutting off the global TB treatment team's oxygen supply. We need international cooperation to tackle this disease, not isolation. Let's keep our fingers crossed that someone figures out a way to fill those funding gaps before it's too late... 
TB is still a huge problem worldwide & progress can b easily reversed if funding doesn't pick up 
22 billion is a big ask but I think it's worth it 2 keep people alive 
the US withdrawal from WHO has got ppl worried 
can't have life-saving services on hold 
. It's crazy how far we've come since the pandemic, but now it's like, ' Wait a minute, what's gonna happen when we run out of cash?' 
. I mean, $5.9 billion isn't a lot, especially when you gotta cover 8 million new cases. It's like they're saying, "Hey, let's just forget all the progress we made and go back to square one." That's just not cool, TB or no TB 
, but it's kinda worrying that progress is at risk due to funding issues 
. But if they don't meet their $22 billion target by 2027, I think it could be a big problem 
.
that's crazy!!! but now they're worried that funding shortfalls might ruin everything 
the WHO needs like $22 billion by 2027 to keep making progress but it's only got like $5.9 billion 
if we don't get more funding then TB cases & deaths will probably start going back up 
we need to do something ASAP 
but for real though, how can we celebrate progress when funding shortfalls are gonna put a big damper on it? Like, $5.9 billion just ain't gonna cut it 
. But, y'know, it's all coming undone because of funding issues 
. Like, the WHO needs $22 billion by 2027 and they're only at like $5.9 billion? That's not even close 
. Tedros is right, if we don't get that funding sorted, all those gains are just gonna get reversed and more people will die 
. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the WHO and others can find a way to fill this funding gap before it's too late 