Why Tuberculosis Still Kills Millions Despite a Vaccine and Effective Treatment

Tuberculosis (TB) claimed an estimated 1.23 million lives across the globe in 2024, despite the availability of both a vaccine and long-standing treatment options. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that an additional 10.7 million individuals contracted TB during the same year. According to the WHO, global TB incidence experienced a 1.7% decrease from 2023 to 2024, marking the first year-on-year decline since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, this progress is deemed insufficient, as the global incidence rate has only fallen by 12.3% since 2015, falling short of the WHO End TB Strategy's objective of a 50% reduction by 2025.

Despite the existence of a vaccine and effective antibiotic treatment for over a century, TB continues to pose a significant health threat. The BCG vaccine, introduced in 1921, provides moderate protection against severe forms of TB in infants and young children, but lacks efficacy in adults. Streptomycin, the first effective antibiotic against TB, was developed in 1943. While these scientific advancements have transformed TB treatment, they have not managed to eradicate the disease.

The BCG vaccine remains the only licensed TB vaccine and offers limited protection against severe disease in children. However, there is currently no effective vaccine for adults. The most widely used antibiotic regimen for drug-susceptible TB lasts six months, although the WHO now recommends shorter four-month regimens for certain patients.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, TB can typically be cured. Yet, the disease persists when health systems fail to identify cases or when individuals cannot access the necessary care.