Anna Hartz
The Old Disease We Thought We Had Under Control Is Rising Again
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Tuberculosis. It’s an old disease, but it’s far from gone. And now it’s showing up more in a group we should all care deeply about: children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a rise in tuberculosis cases among kids in Europe, according to Healthline.
In 2023, more than 7,500 children were diagnosed. Over 2,400 of them were under five years old. That age group faces the highest risk of serious illness or even death from TB.
This rise is part of a larger pattern. In total, more than 172,000 people in Europe were diagnosed with new or relapsed TB cases last year.
Although fewer people are dying from the disease, the progress is slower than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Treating TB is not easy. In Europe, only 75% of patients with new or relapsed TB are successfully treated.
That’s well below the global goal of 90%. The numbers are worse for people with drug-resistant TB. Less than 60% of those cases end in recovery.
There are many reasons for this. Some people don’t get diagnosed early enough. Others stop treatment before it’s finished.
Some never start it at all. Funding cuts are making the situation worse. The U.S., which used to give millions to global TB programs, has pulled back in recent years.
Experts in the U.S. are paying attention. They warn that what happens in Europe often reaches American shores. TB spreads easily through the air. It doesn’t need a passport.
This isn’t just about Europe or developing countries. It’s a global health issue. One that could get out of hand without proper attention.
Doctors say we already have the tools to fight TB. The tests work. The medicines work.
But the effort has to be consistent. Without enough support, the disease will spread. And it could stay with us for a long time.
Tuberculosis can hide in the body for years. It can come back without warning. It’s not gone — not yet.