Gladness Gideon
The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases among children under 15 in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) European region rose by 10 percent in 2023, signaling a growing public health challenge, a new report has revealed.
According to data from WHO Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), children accounted for 4.3 percent of all new and relapsed TB cases across the region’s 53 countries, including several in Central Asia. This marks the third consecutive year of rising TB infections among children, underscoring the persistent threat posed by the disease.
Overall, more than 172,000 people in the region were diagnosed with new or relapsed TB cases in 2023, a figure that remained largely unchanged from 2022. However, within the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA), cases climbed by 2,000, reaching nearly 37,000 infections.
The report emphasizes that the spread of TB is ongoing and warns that immediate public health interventions are necessary to curb its resurgence. WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, stressed that eliminating TB is a matter of choice rather than an unattainable goal.
“Sadly, the current TB burden and the worrying rise in children with TB serve as a reminder that progress against this preventable and curable disease remains fragile,” Kluge stated. He also pointed out that, even before recent cuts to international development aid, the global TB response faced an $11 billion funding shortfall.
ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner echoed the urgency of stepping up efforts. “It is critical that Europe renews its focus on prevention and timely, effective treatment,” she said.
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A key concern remains multidrug-resistant TB, which continues to pose a formidable challenge. Rendi-Wagner warned that failing to act now could have severe long-term consequences, stating, “With the rise of drug-resistant TB, the cost of inaction today will be paid by us all tomorrow.”
The WHO and ECDC have called for an expansion of TB detection and treatment programs, emphasizing the need for shorter, fully oral treatment regimens. These regimens have shown promise in improving recovery rates among patients with drug-resistant TB.
Additionally, the report highlights the importance of strengthening TB testing and ensuring that preventive treatments are widely accessible to those at risk.
As Europe faces a persistent TB threat, public health authorities stress that stronger policies, increased funding, and innovative treatment strategies are crucial to reversing the worrying trend and preventing further infections, particularly among vulnerable children.