Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Early Detection & Treatment | WHO Africa

March 24, 2026 Dr. Michael Lee – Health Editor Health

Deaths from tuberculosis (TB) fell by 42% across the African region between 2015 and 2023, according to data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 21, 2025. While this represents the steepest decline globally in TB-related deaths during that period, the region remains significantly impacted by the disease, and is falling short of key milestones set by the WHO’s End TB Strategy.

The WHO’s Global TB Report 2024 indicates that approximately 1.9 million cases of TB were detected in the African region in 2023, a substantial increase from the 1.4 million cases reported in 2020. Treatment coverage also rose during this period, increasing from 55% to 74% across the region. These improvements are attributed to increased efforts by countries to strengthen case detection and treatment provision, averting a greater number of deaths.

Despite the progress, the African region continues to bear a significant burden of the global TB epidemic. In 2022, the region accounted for 23% of new TB cases worldwide, and over 33% of all TB deaths globally, with an estimated 424,000 fatalities. Globally, TB was the second leading infectious disease killer in 2022, after COVID-19, and the leading cause of death among people living with HIV.

The WHO End TB Strategy aims for a 75% reduction in TB deaths and a 50% reduction in TB cases by 2025, compared to 2015 levels. While several African countries are making strides, progress remains uneven. South Africa has already surpassed the 2025 incidence reduction milestone, achieving a 50% decrease between 2015 and 2023. Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia have also met the 75% reduction target for TB deaths.

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) continues to pose a significant public health challenge. In 2022, the WHO estimated 410,000 cases of rifampicin-resistant TB globally, with 62,000 occurring in the African region. Globally, TB incidence has fallen by 8.7% since 2015, but the reduction in the African region has been more substantial, at 23%.

The WHO is urging governments, global partners, and donors to translate commitments made during the 2023 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis into concrete action. The organization emphasizes the need for increased investment in early detection, diagnosis, preventive treatment, and high-quality TB care to accelerate progress towards ending the TB epidemic by 2030, a target aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

According to the WHO, an estimated 1.3 million children became ill with TB in 2022, and 250,000 children died from the disease, including those with HIV-associated TB. TB remains a leading killer of people with HIV, accounting for 26% of HIV-related deaths in 2022.