The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a concerning 10% increase in tuberculosis (TB) infections among children in its European region in 2023, signaling ongoing transmission and the urgent need for stronger public health measures.
More than 7,500 cases of TB were recorded among children under 15, reflecting a rise of over 650 cases compared to 2022. This marks the third consecutive year of increased infections in this age group.
Hans Henri Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, described the surge as a stark reminder of the fragile progress in combating this preventable and curable disease.
Askar Yedilbayev, the regional TB advisor, noted that while the rise could partly reflect better diagnostics, it may also be linked to increased cross-border movement due to the Russia-Ukraine war, as both countries bear the highest TB burden in the region.
In the European Union, children under 15 accounted for 4.3% of all TB cases, according to a joint report by WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Additionally, WHO warned that funding cuts from global donors could reverse progress in fighting TB, particularly in non-EU countries. Reduced financial support has already weakened local TB programs and disrupted the supply of diagnostics and treatments, further exacerbating the situation.
TB remains one of the top 10 causes of death globally, primarily affecting the lungs and spreading through respiratory droplets. WHO continues to call for enhanced efforts to prevent, detect, and treat the disease, especially among vulnerable populations like children.
