In 2023, a report revealed that children under 15 made up 4.3% of new and relapsed tuberculosis cases in the WHO’s European region, showing a 10% increase from the previous year. Across 53 countries in the region, including some in central Asia, over 172,000 cases were reported. While this number was similar to 2022, nearly 37,000 cases were diagnosed in the European Union/European Economic Area, with 2,000 more cases than the previous year.
The report highlighted a concerning trend of children under 15 accounting for 4.3% of all TB cases in the EU/EEA for the third consecutive year. Health organizations emphasized the ongoing spread of TB in the region, calling for immediate public health interventions to control and reduce the disease burden. WHO regional director expressed the urgency of addressing the rising TB cases, stressing the need for increased global response funding.
The ECDC Director emphasized the importance of focusing on prevention and providing timely, effective treatment in Europe. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was identified as a significant challenge in the region, with a call to scale up efforts in TB detection and treatment. Recommendations included expanding access to new treatment regimens and strengthening TB testing to reduce the burden of the disease.
Overall, the report underscored the critical need to address the growing TB problem and the challenges posed by drug-resistant strains.