TB Cases Surge in the Americas

Washington D.C. — March 24, 2025 — Alarm bells are ringing as tuberculosis (TB) cases in the Americas have surged by over 20% in the last decade, leading to an increase in related fatalities. On World Tuberculosis Day, marked on March 24 annually, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), called on nations within the region to tap into groundbreaking technological advancements to reverse this worrying trend.

Despite significant advancements in combating TB, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have worsened existing socioeconomic disparities, hindering progress in TB treatment and prevention. In the Americas, approximately 900 individuals are diagnosed with TB each day, while around 100 succumb to the disease. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, with vulnerable groups—including Indigenous Peoples, migrants, individuals with compromised immune systems, the homeless, and incarcerated persons—most affected.

Remarkably, in some countries, up to 57% of TB cases involve individuals deprived of their liberty. This alarming statistic is primarily attributed to overcrowded prison conditions and rapidly growing inmate populations. Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, PAHO's Director of the Department for the Prevention, Control, and Elimination of Communicable Diseases, emphasized that addressing TB within prisons is vital not only for the health of inmates but also to enhance the fight against TB in the broader community. A staggering one-third of TB cases in Latin America are linked to incarceration, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.

Despite these daunting challenges, Dr. Barbosa remains hopeful. "While the situation is serious, there are reasons to be optimistic. We have the technologies and innovations needed to turn this tide," he stated. Among these innovations is AI-assisted radiography, which allows healthcare providers to identify active TB cases in communities effectively. This technology has proven particularly transformative in Peru’s prison system, boosting case detection rates threefold and significantly contributing to early diagnosis efforts that lower community transmission risks.

Additionally, PAHO advocates for rapid molecular testing systems that enable quicker disease detection at primary healthcare facilities. Combined with shorter oral treatment courses and telehealth consultations, these measures aim to ease the economic strain faced by TB patients and their families, overcoming barriers to access and improving adherence to treatment.

At the 2023 United Nations General Assembly's high-level meeting on TB, global leaders pledged to intensify their efforts to eradicate tuberculosis. Dr. Barbosa urged, "Now is the time to act decisively toward our elimination targets." He reaffirmed PAHO's commitment to collaborating with governments, civil society, and strategic partners to focus on leadership, investment, and innovation that prioritize people.

World TB Day

World TB Day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing urgency to eliminate tuberculosis, a disease that continues to devastate millions worldwide with grave health, social, and economic impacts. This year’s theme, "Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver," calls on countries to transform their commitments into actionable strategies that bolster the World Health Organization/PAHO initiatives aimed at eradicating TB. Strengthening national strategies and ensuring adequate financing are essential to bridging the gaps in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

With tuberculosis listed among the 30 communicable diseases targeted by PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, the call to action is clearer than ever. The time to innovate and invest in TB elimination is now—lives depend on it.