Tuberculosis Alert! WHO Warns Of Rise In Cases Across Europe And Central Asia

According to the findings of the report by WHO, Tuberculosis (TB) is still an ongoing disease in Europe and Central Asia and requires immediate public health measures to control and reduce the growing burden.

Tuberculosis cases has been increasing in regions of Central Asia and Europe, says The World Health organisation. As per reports, children under age 15 accounted for 4.3 per cent of new and relapsed cases in the WHO's European region in the year 2023. This accounts for 10 per cent more than the number reported in the previous 12 months. Over 172,000 people have been reported to suffer from either new or relapsed cases of TB in the 53 countries which includes several in Central Asian regions. Both these regions are a part of WHO.

The number was similar to 2022 levels but in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) nearly 37,000 people were diagnosed -- 2,000 more than the previous year, WHO Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said.

The health body said in a statement that children under 15 years also accounted for 4.3 percent of all TB cases in the EU/EEA which signifies an increase for the third year in a row.

According to the findings of the report published by WHO, TB is still an ongoing disease in these regions. The health agencies noted that, "Immediate public health measures are needed to control and reduce the growing TB burden".

WHO regional director Hans Kluge said in a statement, "Ending TB is not a dream. It's a choice. Sadly, 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."