Global TB Report 2025

14.11.2025

Global TB Report 2025

Context

WHO’s Global TB Report 2025 shows India still has the world’s highest TB burden but has achieved notable progress, with a 21% decline in incidence since 2015.

About the News

Background:

WHO’s annual Global TB Report tracks progress toward the End TB Strategy (2015–2035), assessing global prevention, detection, and treatment, and highlighting gaps such as MDR-TB and funding shortages.

Key Objectives:

Track global, regional, and national TB trends.
Guide evidence-based TB policies and funding.
Identify gaps in diagnostics, treatment, and MDR-TB response.

About Tuberculosis (TB)

TB is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mainly affecting the lungs.
It can also involve organs like the abdomen, lymph nodes, bones, and the nervous system.
Transmission occurs through tiny droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Types of TB (Simple Points)

Pulmonary TB:
- Lung infection; highly infectious.
- Visible symptoms usually present.
Latent TB:
- Bacteria remain inactive; the immune system keeps it controlled.
- Not infectious; no symptoms.
Active TB:
- Bacteria multiply and spread due to weak immune control.
- Infectious and symptomatic.

Global Highlights

Incidence and Mortality Trends:

Global TB incidence fell 1.7% (2023–24), with Africa, South-East Asia, and Europe improving, while the Americas saw a rise due to weak surveillance.

Regional Burden:

South-East Asia: 34%
Western Pacific: 27%
Africa: 25%

High-Burden Nations:

Eight countries form two-thirds of cases, led by India (25%), Indonesia (10%), and the Philippines (7%).

Drug Resistance:

MDR-TB remains a major challenge, with slow progress in detection and access to safer drugs.

Funding Gap:

Global TB financing has stagnated since 2020, with donor cuts affecting national TB programs.

India’s Performance

Incidence:

India’s TB incidence declined from 195 (2023) to 187 per 100,000 (2024), higher than the global reduction rate.

Case Detection:

India detected 2.61 million of 2.7 million estimated cases, significantly narrowing detection gaps.

Mortality:

Deaths reduced from 28 per 100,000 (2015) to 21 per 100,000 (2024), but remain above the 2025 target.

Drug Resistance:

India holds about one-third of global MDR-TB cases, with gradual decline due to improved regimens.

Policy Initiatives:

Ni-kshay 2.0: Strengthens digital tracking and adherence.
TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Expands diagnostics and community involvement.
Upfront Diagnostics: Universal Truenat/CBNAAT for early confirmation and resistance testing.

Initiatives to Reduce TB

Global Actions:

End TB Strategy (2015–2035) aims for sharp reductions in deaths and incidence.
UN declarations push vaccine development and universal care.
Global Fund and Stop TB Partnership support innovation and access.
WHO (2024–25) guidelines promote integrated TB, MDR-TB, and TB-diabetes care.

National Actions:

National Strategic Plan (2017–2025): Target major incidence reduction.
Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: Nutrition support for patients.
PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Community donor involvement.
Expanded molecular testing and doorstep drug delivery.

Challenges

Widespread undernutrition increases susceptibility.
Significant MDR-TB burden with limited access to newer regimens.
Funding stagnation threatens program expansion.
Weak rural/private surveillance hampers detection.
No new TB vaccine ready for rollout.

Way Forward

Advance next-generation vaccine development.
Expand molecular and AI-based diagnostics.
Ensure sustained domestic financing.
Integrate TB efforts with nutrition and poverty programs.
Use digital, real-time surveillance for monitoring.

Conclusion

The report highlights India’s strong progress but persistent gaps in meeting elimination targets. Faster diagnostics, stable funding, better nutrition support, and accelerated vaccine development are vital for achieving TB-free India and global End TB goals.