A 26% rise in childhood tuberculosis cases underscores the need for strengthened global TB control efforts.
In 2023, tuberculosis (TB) cases among children and adolescents in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) increased by 26%, marking the third consecutive year of growth. The latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe show that children under 15 now account for 4.3% of all TB cases in the EU/EEA, with notifications rising from 1,341 in 2022 to 1,689 in 2023. This ongoing increase in childhood TB cases indicates continued transmission within communities.1
A total of 38,993 TB cases were reported in the EU/EEA in 2023, yielding a notification rate of 8.6 per 100,000 population. Although this reflects a slight increase compared to 2022, the overall trend has been a decline over the past five years. Countries such as Cyprus, Greece, Iceland, and Slovakia saw a 1-3% rise in cases compared to 2019 data. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB data collection and patient access to healthcare during 2020-2021 remains a factor in these results.2
Despite the rise in TB cases, treatment success rates in the EU/EEA remain concerning. In 2023, only 67.9% of TB patients achieved successful treatment outcomes, significantly lower than the WHO target of 90%. Additionally, multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains a persistent challenge, with only 56% of MDR-TB patients completing their treatment regimen.2
In 2023, TB emerged as the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, with an estimated 1.25 million deaths, including 161,000 among individuals co-infected with HIV. This marks TB's return to the top position after COVID-19 dominated the global death toll for the past three years. The WHO reported that approximately 10.8 million new TB cases occurred globally in 2023, affecting 6 million men, 3.6 million women, and 1.3 million children.3
MDR-TB continues to present a significant challenge. In 2023, only 40% of individuals diagnosed with MDR-TB received appropriate treatment. MDR-TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to the first-line antibiotics isoniazid and rifampicin. Treatment for MDR-TB involves second-line drugs that are more toxic and expensive. In some cases, extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) has developed, leaving patients with very limited treatment options.3
TB primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other organs such as the kidneys, brain, and spine. It spreads through aerosolized droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or spits. While about a quarter of the global population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, only 5-10% will develop active TB disease. Individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, diabetes, or malnutrition, are at an increased risk of progressing from latent infection to active TB disease.3
The WHO has set a global strategy to end the TB epidemic by 2030, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Achieving this ambitious target requires substantial financial investment. The WHO estimates that US$ 22 billion is needed annually for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care to meet global targets by 2027.3
TB cases among children in the EU/EEA increased by 26% in 2023, marking the third consecutive year of growth.
Treatment success rates remain low, with only 67.9% of TB patients and 56% of MDR-TB patients completing treatment.
TB was the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, with 1.25 million deaths worldwide and ongoing outbreaks in regions like Kansas.
Recent advances in diagnostics, such as rapid molecular tests like Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and Truenat assays, have significantly improved early detection of TB and drug-resistant forms. Although, access to these diagnostic tools remains limited, especially in low-resource settings. The WHO recommends the BPaLM/BPaL regimen for MDR-TB treatment. This shorter, all-oral regimen has shown high efficacy, reduces treatment duration, and improves patient adherence and clinical outcomes.3
The US saw an outbreak in Kansas earlier this year and it is currently ongoing. The report provides an update on TB cases associated with an outbreak first identified in 2024. As of March 21, 2025:4
Active TB cases: 68 total (61 in Wyandotte County, 7 in Johnson County).
Latent TB infections: 80 total (78 in Wyandotte County, 2 in Johnson County).
Individuals remain classified as "active TB" until they complete treatment, after which they are considered cured or successfully treated.
