Cases of tuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest infectious diseases, have increased nearly 10% year-over-year among children in Europe and Central Asia, according to a new report from international health organizations.
This data, from 2023, highlights that the region is still dealing with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe team.
The report also raises alarms that cuts to global aid could contribute to a resurgence of TB worldwide. In 2023, more than 172,000 people in the European region either contracted TB or had a relapse of the disease, a number comparable to 2022 levels. While TB deaths decreased, they did so at a much slower rate than before the pandemic, indicating that many people infected during that time went undiagnosed and untreated due to disruptions in healthcare services. This ongoing impact is now becoming evident.
The toll on children is especially concerning, with about 7,500 cases of TB reported among children under 15 in 2023, marking a 9.6% increase from the previous year. Among them, more than 2,400 cases were in children under 5, who are at higher risk for severe illness and death.
“The current TB burden and the worrying rise in children with TB serves as a reminder that progress against this preventable and curable disease remains fragile,” said Dr. Hans Kluge, the WHO Europe director.
The findings underscore the ongoing spread of TB across Europe, and the report calls for “immediate” public health actions to control the disease and prevent further harm.
