A new report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization/Europe has found a significant surge in tuberculosis cases among children under 15 years of age, with 4.3% of all reported TB cases in the WHO European Region attributed to pediatric patients.
The findings indicate an increase in transmission of TB in the European Region for the third consecutive year, highlighting the need for immediate public health measures to control and reduce the growing burden of the disease. Over 650 additional TB cases among children were reported between 2022 and 2023, with a major concern being that treatment completion is unknown for up to 1 in 5 affected children.
The report also shows that despite progress, the overall TB burden remains high, with over 172,000 people diagnosed and treated for TB in 2023. The number of people diagnosed and treated for TB began to increase again after an unprecedented drop in 2020 due to COVID-19-related disruptions.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains a significant challenge, with treatment success rates falling far below expectations. The ECDC and WHO/Europe urge governments to renew their focus on prevention and timely, effective treatment, emphasizing that the time to act is now to meet the 2030 targets for TB elimination.
The report calls for increased efforts in detecting and treating people with TB more effectively, including expanding access to shorter, fully oral treatment regimens. It also highlights the need for stronger public health measures, particularly in high-priority countries, to address the burden of TB and HIV coinfection.
Source: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/24-03-2025-childhood-tuberculosis-cases-rise-by-10-a-disturbing-wake-up-call-for-european-region