The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday urged member nations to take immediate “decisive action” to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2030.
WHO made this call in a press release issued on the occasion of World TB Day.
According to the release, an estimated 1.9 million new TB infections were recorded in 2023, with 95,000 deaths, and the disease’s impact on families and communities has been increasing.
WHO’s Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Saia Ma’u Piukala, stated that severe TB cases deprive people of life-saving opportunities. He said, “People at risk must ensure timely diagnosis and turn their commitments into decisive action.”
According to WHO, tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that primarily affects the lungs. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or spits, TB bacteria are released into the air and can spread to others. While it can be treated with specific antibiotics, many people are still losing their lives to the infection.