"In 2023, approximately 8.2 million new patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis, the highest figure since 1995, when WHO began global monitoring of the incidence of tuberculosis. As a result, tuberculosis has once again become the leading infectious cause of death, displacing COVID-19 from this position," the publication says.

While the total number of tuberculosis-related deaths decreased from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the total number of tuberculosis cases in 2023 increased slightly and amounted to an estimated 10.8 million people.

Separately, the organization points out that the disease disproportionately affects the population of 30 countries. India (26%), Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%) and Pakistan (6.3%) account for 56% of the global TB burden.

The report notes that 55% of tuberculosis cases were men, 33% were women and 12% were children and young adolescents.