South-East Asia bears high TB burden, says WHO official

The South-East Asia region continues to carry a disproportionate share of the tuberculosis burden, one of the leading infectious diseases in the world, said a World Health Organisation (WHO) official said on Tuesday.

On World TB Day, the WHO called for stronger national leadership, sustained investment and continued engagement of communities and people to control the spread of the disease.

In a statement, Dr Catharina Boehme, officer-in-charge, WHO South-East Asia, said, “The region accounts for approximately 34 per cent of people developing the disease globally and nearly 40 per cent of deaths.

In 2024 alone, an estimated 3.68 million people developed TB, and approximately 433,000 lives were lost, including 13,000 among people living with HIV,” she said in a statement.

This year’s theme — “Yes! We Can End TB” — is a timely reminder that progress is within reach when political commitment, science and innovation, and community leadership come together, Dr Boehme said.

Since 2015, South-East Asia has achieved a 23 per cent reduction in TB deaths, and a 16 per cent decline in TB incidence, outpacing the global average decline of 12 per cent.

“Treatment coverage has expanded significantly to more than 85 per cent, with over 3.1 million people initiating treatment in 2024. The member states continue to achieve treatment success rates above the global average, including for drug-resistant TB, she said.” While expanding preventive treatment for people living with HIV and household contacts, she said.

The national programmes are strengthening TB services, integrating them within primary health care and universal health coverage, and using data and innovation to reach those still being missed.

These gains reflect the sustained efforts of Governments, health workers, communities and partners across the region.

Nevertheless, the region remains off track to meet the “End TB” milestones.

Drug-resistant TB remains a serious challenge, with an estimated 150,000 MDR (multidrug-resistant tuberculosis) and RR-TB (Rifampicin-Resistant tuberculosis) cases each year in the region.

Socio-economic drivers continue to fuel transmission as undernutrition and diabetes are major risk factors, and 44 per cent of TB-affected households face catastrophic costs due to the disease.

To drive progress, the focus needs to be on accelerating the pace of decline in TB incidence and deaths, especially in high-burden settings, through integrated approaches embedded within primary health care to provide people-centred care, Boehme said.

There is a need to close the detection and treatment gaps through universal access, rapid diagnostics and shorter treatment regimens.

Boehme also stressed harnessing new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to expand access to quality care that leaves no one behind.