Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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March 24, 2026 Healthcare
In the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region, one in five tuberculosis cases remains undetected, and the rate of drug-resistant forms of the disease remains among the highest in the world. This was stated in a joint report published Tuesday by the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
According to 2024 data, 161,569 new and relapsed cases of tuberculosis were registered in 51 countries in the region—only 79 percent of the estimated number of cases. The WHO estimates that approximately 204,000 people have been infected in the region. Underdiagnosis remains a key problem: people who are not diagnosed promptly continue to transmit the infection and face more severe forms of the disease.
The situation in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA) is also alarming experts. In 2024, 38,249 cases of tuberculosis were registered there, but one in five patients who started treatment fails to receive follow-up testing within a year. This gap persists even among children under 15.
Despite overall declines in TB incidence and mortality—by 39 percent and 49 percent, respectively, since 2015—the region remains significantly behind the End TB Strategy targets. Progress in the EU/EEA has been even slower: TB incidence has declined by 33 percent, while mortality has declined by only 17 percent.
Drug resistance
The European Region bears a disproportionately high share of the global burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. In 2024, 26,845 cases of the disease resistant to rifampicin or multiple other drugs were confirmed here.
European rates significantly exceed global ones: 23 percent of new cases in the region are multidrug-resistant (compared to only 3.2 percent globally), and among previously treated patients, resistance is detected in 51 percent of cases (compared to 16 percent globally). This makes the region one of the most problematic globally.
"A Missed Opportunity"
"One in five people with tuberculosis in the European Region remains undetected, and this isn't just a failure to diagnose—it's a missed opportunity to prevent suffering and further transmission," said Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. He emphasized that accelerating diagnosis, switching to shorter, oral regimens, and strengthening monitoring can put countries back on track to achieve their goals.
Additional challenges: HIV, prisons and childhood illnesses
The report records 23,000 cases of TB and HIV co-occurrence, 80 percent of which occur in Russia and Ukraine. Despite high testing rates, antiretroviral therapy coverage remains below target.
The situation in prisons is particularly alarming: the incidence rate there reaches 121.6 cases per 100,000 people – 13 times higher than the regional average.
In several European countries, the incidence rate of tuberculosis among children under four years of age exceeds 10 cases per 100,000 people, indicating persistent disparities within the region.
Commenting on the findings of the report's authors, ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner noted that progress in recent years in Europe has been insufficient: "To achieve the 2030 targets, sustained efforts in early detection and support of patients throughout their treatment are needed."
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