Cases of tuberculosis (TB) among children in Europe and Central Asia have risen by nearly 10% in 2023, sparking concerns from health officials about the disease’s growing threat. The data, reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe, highlights the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB diagnosis and treatment, as well as the devastating consequences of global aid cuts.
In 2023, over 172,000 individuals in the region contracted TB or experienced a relapse, with a significant rise in the number of cases among children under 15. Approximately 7,500 children were affected, marking a 9.6% increase from the previous year. Children under five were especially vulnerable, with over 2,400 cases reported among this high-risk group.
Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Europe Director, emphasized that the rise in TB cases, particularly among children, is a stark reminder that progress against this preventable disease remains fragile. “The current TB burden and the worrying rise in children with TB serve as a reminder that urgent public health actions are needed to control the disease,” Kluge stated.
TB remains difficult to eliminate due to its bacterial nature and the challenges in ensuring that patients complete the full course of treatment. Resistance to drugs, especially multi-drug resistant TB, is an increasing concern. In the European region, about 15.4% of TB patients also have HIV, complicating treatment and further increasing the risk of mortality.
The WHO and ECDC have expressed alarm over the growing impact of global aid cuts, which threaten to undo progress made in the fight against TB. These cuts have already hindered TB programs in several countries, particularly in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific. Health authorities worry that without continued funding, the spread of hard-to-treat strains of TB will worsen, undermining years of progress.
Countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Romania are among the hardest hit, with TB transmission increasingly difficult to monitor and control.
In conclusion, health experts urge immediate action to strengthen TB prevention and treatment efforts, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, to avoid a more significant resurgence of the disease.
References:
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), World Health Organization (WHO), March 2025
Excerpts from euronews.com article By Gabriela Galvin
