The World Health Organization (WHO) is sounding the pandemic alarm once again.
WHO chiefs have issued a new report warning that tuberculosis is now the ‘the leading infectious disease killer‘ as cases reach a record high.
The global health body say that approximately 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023, marking the highest number recorded since WHO began monitoring the disease in 1995.
GB News reports: This represents a significant increase from the 7.5 million cases reported in 2022.
The alarming figures have propelled TB back to its position as the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing COVID-19.
Cases are rising everywhere.
The latest provisional data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that TB notification rates in the UK in 2023 increased by 12.5 per cent compared with 2022, the largest year-on-year increase in the current reporting period (2000 to 2023).
TB notification rates increased for all UK nations, with the largest increase (41.2 per cent) in Scotland and the lowest increase in England (11.0 per cent).
It is important to note that cases in Britain are relatively low compared to other countries. In 2023, they were 7.84 per 100,000 population, below WHO’s threshold of 10 per 100,000 population.
However, resistance to the antibiotics used to treat TB has risen in the UK, with the highest number of individuals (74) resistant since 2013 – this is the highest proportion since enhanced surveillance began.
The same concerning picture is emerging in America. Last year saw the highest number of cases reported in the last decade.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affecting the lungs.
It spreads through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit. Inhaling just a few germs can lead to infection.
Common symptoms include a persistent cough lasting over three weeks, chest pain, and coughing up blood. Fatigue, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, and weight loss are also typical signs.
TB is the leading cause of death among people with HIV and contributes significantly to antimicrobial resistance.
Despite being treatable with antibiotics, TB continues to claim 1.5 million lives annually, equating to an average of 2.5 deaths per minute.