Geneva: Children under 15 years of age accounted for 4.3 percent of new and relapsed tuberculosis cases in the WHO European Region, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

According to Qatar News Agency, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), revealed that over 172,000 new or recurrent TB cases were recorded in the European Region. This marks an increase for the third consecutive year, highlighting a concerning trend.

The findings indicate that urgent health measures are needed to address this growing burden. WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge emphasized that the current TB burden and the rise in cases among children underscore the fragile progress against this preventable and curable disease.

ECDC Director Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner stated that with only five years remaining to meet the 2030 targets, it is crucial for Europe to renew its focus on prevention and ensure timely, effective treatment to combat TB effectively.