Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The report “Epidemiological Surveillance and Monitoring of Tuberculosis Incidence in Europe” for 2025, prepared by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in collaboration with the WHO European Regional Office, notes that 4.3% of new and relapsed tuberculosis (TB) cases in the WHO European Region occur in children under 15 years of age. Compared to the previous year, the incidence among children increased by 10% in 2023.

The same proportion of TB cases among children is observed in the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Moreover, this increase has been observed for three consecutive years.

These data indicate that the spread of tuberculosis in the region is ongoing and requires immediate action by health authorities. The rise in the number of affected children is an alarming signal: in 2023, 650 more cases were registered than in 2022. Particular concern is raised by the fact that in the EU/EEA there is no data confirming the completion of treatment for one in every five children with tuberculosis, creating serious risks of a worsening epidemiological situation, including an increase in drug-resistant forms of TB.

According to the 2025 report, the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect TB testing, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment despite the overall recovery of the health system in the region. “To eliminate tuberculosis, immediate action is required. With only five years remaining until 2030, regions must intensify their efforts in prevention and ensure timely, effective treatment. Drug-resistant TB is spreading increasingly fast, and any delay today could have catastrophic consequences tomorrow,” said Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Director of the ECDC.

The burden of tuberculosis remains high despite the progress achieved

Following a sharp decline in TB incidence in 2020, caused by disruptions in healthcare services due to the pandemic, the number of detected TB cases began to rise again in 2023. In the WHO European Region, which covers 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, over 172,000 new and relapsed TB cases were registered in 2023, a figure comparable to that of 2022. In the EU/EEA, the number of cases reached nearly 37,000, up from 35,000 the previous year. “Eliminating tuberculosis is not a utopia but a realistic goal. However, the current level of incidence, especially among children, reminds us of the fragility of the progress made,” noted Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Until recently, measures to combat TB were underfunded by 11 billion US dollars due to the reduction of international funding, which threatens TB control programs, especially in non-EU countries. This could lead to a hidden spread of the infection and an increase in the share of hard-to-treat forms of the disease. However, we cannot afford to stop. New technologies and innovative treatment methods give us a chance to change the situation.”

Treatment effectiveness remains below target levels

The treatment success rate for new and relapsed TB cases initiated in 2022 in the WHO European Region was 75.5%. In the EU/EEA, this figure remained at 67.9%, while in other countries of the region it reached 77.2%. These rates are significantly lower than the WHO’s global target of 90%.

Of particular concern is the low treatment success among patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). In 2023, the treatment success rate for such patients in the WHO European Region was only 59.7%, and in the EU/EEA it was 56.3%. This points to serious challenges in managing these cases, due to inadequate adherence to treatment regimens, delayed diagnosis, and limited access to modern therapeutic methods.

Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of TB, the existence of drug-resistant forms of the disease underscores the need to implement new treatment strategies, including shorter and more patient-friendly regimens that avoid the use of injectable drugs.

Tuberculosis and HIV Infection: Ongoing Challenges

Co-infection with TB and HIV remains a serious issue in the WHO European Region. In 2023, more than 15% of new and relapsed TB cases were registered in patients with HIV, amounting to over 19,000 individuals in the region, including 600 cases in the EU/EEA. Furthermore, one in five patients with TB and HIV did not receive antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Complete data on ART administration are available for only 21 countries in the region, of which only four are in the EU/EEA, highlighting the need to improve monitoring and case registration of co-infection. The ECDC and WHO are urging member states to promptly address gaps in the provision of prevention and treatment services for TB and HIV, ensuring a comprehensive approach to combating these infections to reduce their spread and improve treatment outcomes.

Achieving the goal of tuberculosis elimination

Achieving the global goal of tuberculosis elimination requires strengthened measures for diagnosing and treating the disease. Crucial steps on this path include increasing the accessibility of modern treatment regimens, reducing the duration of therapy, and replacing injectable drugs with oral formulations.

Equally important is the expansion of TB testing programs and the provision of preventive therapy for high-risk groups. For successful TB elimination in the region, efforts must be focused on countries with high incidence rates, prevention strategies must be refined, and effective solutions must be found for tackling TB/HIV co-infection.

Modern technologies, new diagnostic methods, and promising vaccines offer humanity unprecedented opportunities in the fight against tuberculosis. However, achieving these goals will require international cooperation, data transparency, and a comprehensive approach to addressing the problem. A future free of tuberculosis is possible if decisive and immediate action is taken.