India Accounts for 25% of New TB Cases Globally: WHO Report Warns of Urgent Action Needed

— by vishal Sambyal

India accounts for 25% of global TB cases, says WHO’s 2025 report, highlighting progress, funding gaps, and urgent action needed to end the deadly disease.

Introduction: A Global Health Crisis With an Uneven Burden

Tuberculosis may be an age-old disease, but in 2024 it continued to strike with alarming intensity—claiming more than 1.23 million lives and infecting 10.7 million people worldwide. Despite decades of medical progress, the newest WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, released on November 12, delivers a blunt warning: the fight against TB is far from over. And at the very center of this global battle stands one country—India, which accounted for a staggering 25% of all new TB cases, the highest in the world.

Context & Background: A Recovering World Still Fighting an Ancient Disease

Tuberculosis, caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium, spreads through the air—often through coughing—making it one of the most infectious respiratory diseases known. Even though it is preventable and curable, TB remains among the world’s top infectious killers.

After a dramatic setback during the COVID-19 pandemic, when healthcare systems were overwhelmed and TB detection plummeted, the world is finally seeing a slow recovery. According to WHO:

  • TB cases declined globally for the first time since 2020
  • Death rates dropped by 3% between 2023 and 2024
  • More than half of the world now has access to rapid TB testing

Still, these gains mask a troubling reality—TB remains deeply entrenched in low- and middle-income nations, especially in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Main Developments: India Leads the Global TB Burden

The 2025 report reveals that TB cases remain heavily concentrated:

  • 87% of global TB cases are in just 30 high-burden countries
  • 8 countries account for 67% of all new infections
  • India alone: 25% of global TB cases, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and Pakistan

This distribution highlights a crucial point: eliminating TB globally hinges on rapid progress in a few high-burden countries.

Why India’s Numbers Matter

India’s massive share is not merely a statistic—it represents the intersection of multiple public health challenges:

  • High population density
  • Socio-economic barriers
  • Stigma and delayed diagnosis
  • Uneven healthcare access
  • High TB-HIV co-infection rates
  • Rising drug-resistant TB strains

The WHO report notes that while India has made significant strides—particularly in expanding digital diagnostics and active case-finding—its sheer population size and financial barriers make TB control a monumental task.

Global Progress: Successes Elsewhere Show What’s Possible

Some regions offer a blueprint for turning the tide:

  • African Region: 28% drop in incidence, 46% drop in deaths (2015–2024)
  • European Region: 39% decline in incidence, 49% decline in deaths
  • 100+ countries achieved over 20% decline in incidence
  • Treatment success rate reached 88% globally in 2024

These numbers underline what strong political commitment, investments, and community-based care can achieve.

Expert Insight & Public Reaction

Public health experts emphasize that the report is both a warning and a roadmap.

Dr. Miriam Leblanc, Global TB Analyst, Geneva:
“India’s high numbers do not point to failure—they reflect the scale of the challenge. The country is simultaneously the world’s biggest contributor and one of the most aggressive responders in TB control. But without dramatically higher funding, progress will plateau.”

Others warn that funding shortfalls threaten recent gains.

Dr. Khalid Osman, Infectious Disease Economist:
“The global TB fight is dangerously underfunded. If trends continue, we could see millions of preventable deaths by 2035. TB is curable—what we lack is sustained financing.”

Health advocates in India have also raised concerns about financial hardship. Nearly half of TB-affected households face catastrophic expenditure, pushing families deeper into poverty.

Impact & Implications: Funding Gaps Could Reverse Global Progress

While diagnosis and treatment capabilities have improved dramatically, the WHO warns of a looming crisis: money is running out.

Key Funding Red Flags

  • Only $5.9 billion was invested globally in 2024
  • This is just one-quarter of the $22 billion annual target for 2027
  • Predicted donor cuts from 2025 may cause an additional
    • 2 million deaths
    • 10 million new TB cases
      over the next decade

Why Funding Matters

Without reliable financing:

  • Rapid testing coverage may stagnate
  • Drug-resistant TB treatment will falter
  • Community-level interventions may shrink
  • Vulnerable populations—especially migrants, low-income workers, and people living with HIV—will suffer most

India, already carrying the world’s heaviest TB burden, could face severe setbacks unless efforts scale up rapidly.

Conclusion: A Critical Decade for Ending TB

The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 makes one thing clear: the world stands at a crossroads. The recent decline in TB cases offers a glimmer of hope, but heavy concentration in countries like India shows that the global fight is far from over.

Ending TB by 2035—a target endorsed by the UN—will require:

  • Stronger political commitment
  • Stable international funding
  • Universal access to rapid diagnostics
  • Social protection for vulnerable communities
  • Expanded research into shorter, more effective treatments

As the world learned during COVID-19, health crises ignore borders. India’s battle with TB is not just India’s challenge—it is the world’s collective responsibility.

Disclaimer :This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Readers should consult qualified healthcare providers for diagnosis or treatment of tuberculosis or related conditions.