Nearly 10.6 million people contracted tuberculosis in 2021, 4.5 percent more than in 2020, and 1.6 million died of the disease, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Geneva.- According to the survey, the burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis increased by 3 percent between 2020 and 2021, when 450,000 new rifampicin-resistant cases were detected.

This is the first time in many years that the number of people contracting the disease and being infected by drug-resistant bacilli has increased, the survey explained.

Experts argue that the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in March 2020, caused disruptions in TB services in 2021 and particularly affected activities to control the disease.

In addition, conflicts affecting Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East further aggravated the situation of vulnerable groups.

Due to the continued difficulties faced in providing and accessing basic TB services, many cases have gone undiagnosed and untreated. (PL)