WHO Says Pediatric TB Infections In European Region Increased By 10% In 2023

Reuters (3/24, Sunny, Choudhury) reports the World Health Organization said Monday that TB infections “among children in the European region rose 10% in 2023, indicating ongoing transmission and the need for immediate public health measures to control the spread.” WHO’s European region, consisting of 53 countries, “reported more than 7,500 cases among children under 15 years of age in 2023, an increase of over 650 cases compared to 2022.” Hans Henri Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, said, “The worrying rise in children with TB serves as a reminder that progress against this preventable and curable disease remains fragile.” The WHO previously warned “that funding cuts from global donors will undo progress in controlling TB infections across low- and middle-income countries. These cuts can hurt TB programs in non-EU countries, fuelling a rise of hard-to-treat strains, the agency said.”