In 2022, a staggering 2.5 million individuals in Africa were afflicted with Tuberculosis (TB), as reported by Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for Africa.
This alarming statistic translates to one new TB case every 13 seconds.
Despite TB being both preventable and treatable, the death toll reached 424,000 in 2022, equating to a life lost every minute. Dr. Moeti shared these sobering facts in her message commemorating World TB Day, an annual event held on March 24th to raise awareness about the disease’s impact.
TB, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lungs and is spread through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit. Inhaling just a few germs can lead to infection.
In 2022, TB claimed 1.3 million lives globally, including 167,000 people living with HIV. This makes TB the second leading infectious killer worldwide, surpassing HIV/AIDS and only behind COVID-19. An estimated 10.6 million people worldwide fell ill with TB in 2022, including 5.8 million men, 3.5 million women, and 1.3 million children.
Dr. Moeti highlighted a 20% increase in identified pediatric TB cases since the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Lomé, Togo, in 2022. This increase represents a significant step forward in recognizing and combating TB in children.
Reflecting on the progress made and the challenges ahead, Dr. Moeti emphasized the urgency of collective action to address the ongoing TB epidemic and the need for sustained efforts to eradicate this ancient disease. She reiterated that TB remains the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, underscoring the critical need for action.
