Tuberculosis claims 1.23 million lives annually, according to the WHO, despite recent progress in combating the disease. The UN health agency warns that this progress is at risk due to a critical aid shortfall. The number of TB cases has decreased by nearly 2% since 2023, and deaths have fallen by 3% to 1.23 million in 2024, marking the first decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the WHO emphasizes that the battle against TB is far from over. In 2024, 8.3 million people received TB treatment, and success rates improved to 71%. Yet, the WHO's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warns that insufficient funding could jeopardize these gains. Last year, only $5.9 billion was allocated for TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, falling short of the annual target of $22 billion by 2027. The WHO's director, Tereza Kasaeva, predicts a potential rise in TB deaths and cases due to long-term cuts in international donor funding. The US's withdrawal from the WHO and the Trump administration's reduction in foreign aid have further exacerbated these concerns, raising fears about global TB treatment.
