Europe on alert for rising TB in under-15s

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe’s Tuberculosis Surveillance and Monitoring Report 2025 show a 10% increase in tuberculosis (TB) among children under 15 by 2023, indicating that transmission is still active. In the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), the number of cases among children has increased for the third year. The findings highlight the increase of the disease in the younger population, with more than 650 additional cases of TB in children reported between 2022 and 2023. In addition, one in five children with TB in the EU/EEA are uncertain about completing treatment, leading to the emergence and spread of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). Overall, more than 172,000 people were diagnosed in the European Region, with an increase in the EU/EEA. Treatment success remains below WHO standards, especially for drug-resistant TB, with cure rates below 60%. In addition, 15% of patients are co-infected with HIV, and access to treatment is inadequate. WHO is calling for urgent action to improve diagnosis, prevention, and access to more effective treatment to eliminate the disease by 2030.