POST-PRESSER : Embargoed WHO Press Conference ahead of the launch of the 2025 Global TB Report

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No images? Click here Tuesday, 11 November 2025   EMBARGOED POST-PRESSER LINKS, SPEAKING NOTES, PRESS RELEASE Embargoed WHO Virtual Press Conference ahead of the launch of the 2025 Global Tuberculosis Report  The embargoed virtual press conference was held today, Tuesday 11 November 2025, at 14:30 hrs CET/Geneva time.  The report, the press release, the press conference and all related material is embargoed until Wednesday, 12 November, 15:30 CET/14:30 GMT, when the report will be officially launched by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The World Health Organization is releasing the 2025 edition of its Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report on 12 November 2025. The report features data on disease trends and the response to the epidemic from 184 countries and areas with more than 99% of the world’s population and TB burden. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic, progress in the response at global, regional and country levels, as well as the impact of the recent funding cuts and the drivers of the TB epidemic. Please contact reddys@who.int to request an embargoed copy of the report. Speakers at today's Press Conference were: Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director, Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs, WHO Dr Yogan Pillay, Director for HIV and TB delivery, Gates Foundation Haruna Aaron Sunday, TB/HIV survivor and youth advocate   Audio file - https://who.canto.global/b/T51B6 Video file - https://who.canto.global/b/M0O3N   ************   EMBARGOED Speaking notes for Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director, WHO Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs October 2025 Ladies and gentlemen, It is an honour to launch the World Health Organization’s 2025 Global Tuberculosis Report together with Dr Yogan Pillay, Director for HIV and TB delivery, Gates Foundation, and Haruna Aaron Sunday, a TB/HIV survivor and youth advocate from Nigeria. On behalf of the World Health Organization, I extend sincere thanks to countries, partners, civil society, and our key donors. I also acknowledge the tireless work of colleagues across our regional and country offices. This year’s report presents data and evidence from 184 countries and areas with more than 99% of the world’s population and TB burden. The data shows that global efforts are beginning to turn the tide - with the TB burden and deaths declining for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 83 million lives were saved due to TB prevention and care since the year 2000. However, TB remains the world’s leading infectious killer. Let me share an overview of the main findings and key messages in the Report: In 2024, TB caused an estimated 1.23million deaths, including 150 000 among people with HIV -making it also the leading killer of people with HIV and a major cause of deaths related to antimicrobial resistance. An estimated 10.7 million people fell ill with TB worldwide in 2024, including 5.8 million men, 3.7 million women and 1.2 million children. TB is present in all countries and age groups. TB is curable and preventable. While TB occurs in every part of the world, a major proportion of the people who develop TB disease each year are in 30 high TB burden countries, which accounted for 87% of the global total in 2024. Five countries accounted for more than half of the worldwide total: India, Indonesia, the Philippines, China and Pakistan. On a positive note, let me acknowledge that there has been significant impact with the work done to date: Between 2023 and 2024, the global rate of people falling ill with TB declined by nearly 2%, while deaths from TB fell by 3%. There have been major advances in TB diagnosis and treatment coverage: In 2024, 8.3 million people were newly diagnosed with TB and accessed treatment, representing about 78% of the people who fell ill with the disease during that year; The coverage of rapid testing for TB diagnosis increased from 48% in 2023 to 54% in 2024; Treatment for drug-susceptible TB remained highly effective, with a success rate of 88%; The number of people developing drug-resistant TB each year has been slowly declining. People with multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) accounted for 3.2% of the TB burden in 2024. Over 164 000 people received treatment for drug-resistant TB in 2024. The latest data show an improvement in the treatment success rate, to 71%, up from 68% the previous year; In 2024, 5.3 million people at high risk of TB received preventive treatment, up from 4.7 million in 2023. For the first time, WHO has reported on progress toward the social protection target established at the second UN High-Level Meeting on TB in 2023, using data compiled by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Globally, an estimated 52% of the general population are covered by at least one social protection benefit--an increase from 43% in 2015. However, coverage remains deeply unequal: only 9.7% of the general population in low-income countries have access to such support compared to 86% in high-income countries. A significant proportion of the TB burden is driven by 5 major risk factors: undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking (especially among men), and diabetes. Tackling these issues, along with critical determinants like poverty and GDP per capita, requires coordinated multisectoral action. WHO continues to support the engagement of other sectors in the TB response, through its Multisectoral Accountability Framework. Some regions and countries continue to show sustained progress, demonstrating that strong political commitment and investment deliver results. Between 2015 and 2024, the WHO African Region achieved a 28% reduction in the TB incidence rate and a 46% reduction in deaths. The European Region saw even greater declines, with a 39% drop in incidence and a 49% reduction in deaths. During the same time period, over 100 countries achieved at least a 20% reduction in TB incidence rates, and 65 countries achieved reductions of 35% or more in TB-related deaths. These countries have attained the first milestones of the End TB Strategy. However, global milestones and targets for reductions in TB disease burden are off-track and other targets set for 2027 at the second UN high-level meeting remain some way off. A major obstacle is global funding for TB, which has stagnated since 2020. In 2024, only US$5.9 billion was available for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment--just over a quarter of the US$22 billion annual target set for 2027. Cuts to funding from 2025 onward pose a serious challenge. Modelling studies have already warned that long-term cuts to international donor funding could result in up to 2 million additional deaths and 10 million people falling ill with TB between 2025 and 2035. Even short-term disruptions to funding could lead to hundreds of thousands of excess deaths. It is vital that countries step up domestic resource allocation alongside international funding. The Global Fund remains the largest international donor for low and middle income countries. The next replenishment of the Global Fund will take place 10 days from now in South Africa. In this time of crisis and uncertainty – investing in the Global Fund will be vital to help low and middle income countries that are struggling to make strong progress against TB, HIV, and malaria. Global TB research funding also lags, reaching only US$1.2 billion in 2023 (24% of the target). Yet the pipeline is strong, and requires sustained investment: As of August 2025, 63 diagnostic tests were in development and 29 drugs were in clinical trials--up from just 8 in 2015. Additionally, 18 vaccine candidates are undergoing clinical trials, including 6 in Phase 3. WHO continues to lead global efforts to advance the TB vaccine agenda, supported by the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council launched by WHO Director-General. Dear Colleagues, the challenges before us are significant, but they are not insurmountable. Ending the global TB epidemic, a commitment made by all WHO and UN Member States, demands renewed urgency and intensified action. With major cuts to funding in 2025, strong political leadership and increased domestic investment in high-burden countries are now absolutely critical. The choices made today will determine whether we accelerate progress, or allow hard-won gains to slip away. The Global TB Report provides powerful evidence and a clear call to action. The data is compelling: progress is possible, but only if we commit to it. Our Director General – Dr Tedros will officially launch the Report tomorrow at his briefing and we thank him for his leadership. WHO stands ready to support every country and every partner committed to a future free of TB. Together, yes, we can end TB! Thank you. ./. PRESS RELEASE Under embargo until 12 November 15:30 CET Global gains in tuberculosis response endangered by funding challenges 12 November 2025 –Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming over 1.2 million lives and affecting an estimated 10.7 million people last year, according to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, released today. Despite measurable progress in diagnosis, treatment and innovation, persistent challenges in funding and equitable access to care threaten to reverse hard-won gains in the global fight against TB. "Declines in the global burden of TB, and progress in testing, treatment, social protection and research are all welcome news after years of setbacks, but progress is not victory," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "The fact that TB continues to claim over a million lives each year, despite being preventable and curable, is simply unconscionable. WHO is working with countries to build on the progress they have made and accelerate the path to ending TB by 2030.” Global progress and success stories Between 2023 and 2024, the global rate of people falling ill with TB declined by nearly 2%, while deaths from TB fell by 3%. These reductions signal a continued recovery of essential health services following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some regions and countries show sustained progress, demonstrating that strong political commitment and investment address this ancient disease. Between 2015 and 2024, the WHO African Region achieved a 28% reduction in the TB incidence rate (number of people falling ill with TB per 100 000 population per year) and a 46% reduction in deaths. The European Region saw even greater declines, with a 39% drop in incidence and a 49% reduction in deaths. During the same period, over 100 countries achieved at least a 20% reduction in TB incidence rates, and 65 countries achieved reductions of 35% or more in TB-related deaths. These countries have attained the first milestones of the WHO End TB Strategy. However, ending TB globally will require accelerated progress in countries with the highest burden. In 2024, 87% of the global number of people who developed TB disease was concentrated in 30 countries. Just eight of them accounted for 67% of the global total: India (25%), Indonesia (10%), the Philippines (6.8%), China (6.5%), Pakistan (6.3%), Nigeria (4.8%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (3.9%) and Bangladesh (3.6%). Major advances in TB diagnosis and treatment Timely treatment for TB has saved an estimated 83 million lives since 2000. Between 2023 and 2024, progress continued in TB diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, reflecting the impact of sustained efforts and innovation in countries. Key achievements include:  In 2024, 8.3 million people were newly diagnosed with TB and accessed treatment, representing about 78% of the people who fell ill with the disease during that year; The coverage of rapid testing for TB diagnosis increased from 48% in 2023 to 54% in 2024; Treatment for drug-susceptible TB remained highly effective, with a success rate of 88%; The number of people developing drug-resistant TB each year has been declining with over 164,000 people receiving treatment in 2024. The latest data show an improvement in the treatment success rate, to 71%, up from 68% the previous year; In 2024, 5.3 million people at high risk of TB received preventive treatment, up from 4.7 million in 2023. Social protection and multisectoral action key to address the drivers of the epidemic For the first time, WHO has reported on progress toward the social protection target established at the second UN High-Level Meeting on TB in 2023, using data compiled by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Among the 30 high TB burden countries, social protection coverage remains highly unequal, ranging from 3.1% in Uganda to 94% in Mongolia. Notably, 19 countries report coverage rates below 50%. The report also highlights data on the major risk factors driving the epidemic such as undernutrition, HIV infection, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use remain. Confronting these drivers, alongside structural determinants such as poverty, requires coordinated multisectoral action. Funding gaps endanger progress and research Despite many gains, global progress levels remain far from meeting the End TB Strategy targets. A major obstacle is global funding for TB, which has stagnated since 2020. In 2024, only US$5.9 billion was available for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment--just over a quarter of the US$22 billion annual target set for 2027. Cuts to international donor funding from 2025 onward pose a serious challenge. Modelling studies have already warned that long-term cuts to international donor funding could result in up to 2 million additional deaths and 10 million people falling ill with TB between 2025 and 2035. Global TB research funding also lags, reaching only US$1.2 billion in 2023 (24% of the target). As of August 2025, 63 diagnostic tests were in development and 29 drugs were in clinical trials--up from just 8 in 2015. Additionally, 18 vaccine candidates are undergoing clinical trials, including 6 in Phase 3. WHO continues to lead global efforts to advance the TB vaccine agenda, supported by the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council launched by WHO Director-General. “We are at a defining moment in the fight against TB,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs. “Funding cuts and persistent drivers of the epidemic threaten to undo hard-won gains, but with political commitment, sustained investment, and global solidarity, we can turn the tide and end this ancient killer once and for all.” WHO calls for sustained political commitment, increased domestic investment, and intensified research to accelerate progress.  Related links (once live) 2025 Global TB report: https://www.who.int/teams/global-programme-on-tuberculosis-and-lung-health/tb-reports/global-tuberculosis-report-2025 TB Fact sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis TB vaccine accelerator council: TB vaccine accelerator council WHO End TB Strategy: https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/the-end-tb-strategy Political Declaration of the 2023 UN High Level Meeting on the fight against TB https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4022582?ln=en ./.   Media contacts: mediainquiries@who.int   You are receiving this NO-REPLY email because you are included on a WHO mail list. 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