The world’s second deadliest infectious disease! Detected in 7.5 million people
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the world’s second deadliest infectious disease was detected in 7.5 million people in 2022.
The 2023 Global Tuberculosis Report published by WHO included data from 92 countries and regions.
The report underlined that 7.5 million people will be diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2022, and that this is the highest number recorded since WHO began monitoring tuberculosis globally in 1995.
In the expansion of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services in 2022 after the Covid-19 epidemic World The report noted that there was improvement across the board and stated that accelerated work was needed to achieve the new targets set in this field.
EXCEEDED THE TOP OF 2019
The report stated that more than 60 percent of the global decrease in the number of people newly diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2020 and 2021 was linked to the decrease in cases in India, Indonesia and the Philippines, and it was noted that the increasing number of tuberculosis cases in these countries in 2022 exceeded 2019 levels.
It was emphasized that while the number of deaths due to tuberculosis, including patients carrying Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), was 1.4 million in 2021, this figure decreased to 1.3 million in 2022.
It was stated that the disruptions in treatments due to Covid-19 between 2020 and 2022 resulted in more than half a million tuberculosis-related deaths and that tuberculosis has a fatal effect on patients with HIV.
The report underlined that progress has been made in the development of tuberculosis diagnostic tools, drugs and vaccines, but this is limited by the overall level of investment in this field.
STILL THE WORLD’S SECOND DEADLIEST INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN 2022
The report emphasized that global efforts to combat tuberculosis have saved more than 75 million lives since 2000, and stated that more efforts are needed to combat tuberculosis, which continues to be the world’s second deadliest infectious disease in 2022.
The report stated that despite the significant improvement in the fight against tuberculosis in 2022, progress was insufficient to meet the global tuberculosis targets set in 2018 due to the disruptions caused by the epidemic and ongoing conflicts.
The report stated that there was a 19 percent decrease in tuberculosis-related deaths from 2015 to 2022, and emphasized that WHO’s target of a 75 percent reduction in tuberculosis-related deaths by 2025 is far behind.
The report also noted that less than half of the targeted funding for tuberculosis services and research has been mobilized.
“WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE THE LAST CHAPTER”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose views are included in the report, reminded that past generations suffered and died due to tuberculosis for many years, and noted that what the disease is, its causes and how to prevent it are unknown.
Ghebreyesus said, “Today we have knowledge and tools that our ancestors could only dream of. We have political determination and we have an opportunity like no other generation in human history. “We have the opportunity to write the final chapter in the tuberculosis story.” he said. (AA)
