Tuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, claiming approximately 1.23 million lives last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

The agency warned that recent progress against TB remains fragile.

Globally, TB deaths fell by 3% compared to 2023, while new cases decreased by nearly 2%, according to WHO’s annual overview. An estimated 10.7 million people contracted TB in 2024, including 5.8 million men, 3.7 million women, and 1.2 million children.

TB is a preventable and curable disease caused by bacteria that primarily attack the lungs and spread through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit.

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare services, both TB cases and deaths showed a decline, said Tereza Kasaeva, head of WHO’s department for HIV, TB, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections. She noted that continued funding cuts and persistent risk factors could reverse progress, but political commitment, sustained investment, and global cooperation could eventually end the disease.

Funding for TB has stagnated since 2020, with only $5.9 billion available last year for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment—far below the target of $22 billion annually by 2027.

The heaviest burden falls on eight countries, which together account for two-thirds of global cases: India (25%), Indonesia (10%), the Philippines (6.8%), China (6.5%), Pakistan (6.3%), Nigeria (4.8%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (3.9%), and Bangladesh (3.6%).

Key risk factors driving the epidemic include undernutrition, HIV infection, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use disorders. TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, with 150,000 fatalities recorded last year.

In 2024, 8.3 million people newly diagnosed with TB received treatment, a record high attributed to improved access to care. Treatment success rates rose from 68% to 71%, and timely TB interventions have saved an estimated 83 million lives since 2000.