WHO in Western Pacific urges action to end tuberculosis by 2030

The World Health Organization is sounding the alarm on tuberculosis, particularly in the Western Pacific region where nearly one-fifth of global TB cases occur. With 1.9 million new cases and 95,000 deaths in 2023, TB remains a critical global health challenge. Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to claim 1.5 million lives annually, making it the world's top infectious killer. The WHO is calling for urgent and decisive action to eliminate TB by 2030, emphasizing the need for timely diagnosis and quality care.

"Every missed TB case is a lost opportunity to save a life" - Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO Regional Director

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday called on countries to take "urgent and decisive action" to end Tuberculosis (TB) by 2030.

Key Points

1 WHO warns TB remains top global infectious killer

2 Western Pacific region faces significant TB challenge

3 1.9 million new TB cases reported in 2023

4 Urgent action needed to meet 2030 elimination goal

"This is especially urgent in the WHO Western Pacific region, where nearly one in every five TB cases occur," the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific said in its press release on World TB Day, falling on March 24 every year.

With an estimated 1.9 million new cases and 95,000 deaths due to TB in 2023, the Manila-based office said the impact of this disease on families and communities is profound, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Every missed TB case is a lost opportunity to save a life," said Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO regional director for the western Pacific.

"We must turn our commitments into decisive action, ensuring that every person at risk gets the timely, high-quality diagnosis and care that they deserve."

According to the WHO, TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affect the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze, or spit. TB is preventable and curable with specific antibiotics, but it still kills more people than any other infection.

Every year, 10 million people fall ill with TB. Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 1.5 million people die from TB each year - making it the world's top infectious killer.

TB is the leading cause of death of people with HIV and also a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance.

Most of the people who fall ill with TB live in low and middle-income countries, but TB is present all over the world. About half of all people with TB can be found in 8 countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Africa.

About a quarter of the global population is estimated to have been infected with TB bacteria, but most people will not go on to develop TB disease and some will clear the infection. Those who are infected but not (yet) ill with the disease cannot transmit it.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/western-pacific-urges-action-end-tuberculosis-2030-860