Tuberculosis Deaths Fall for First Time in Decade, Says WHO

By CP News Briefs, Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Latest figures released Tuesday by the World Health Organization shows the number of deaths from tuberculosis has fallen for the first time in a decade.

In 2003, 1.8 million people died from the disease which affects a third of the world’s population. This figure has fallen to 1.4 million by 2010.

The figures represent a significant milestone in the fight against tuberculosis, according to WHO.

Progress was made in China, Brazil, Kenya and Tanzania. The death rate in China fell by almost 80 percent between 1990 and 2010. Overall, the death rate has dropped 40 percent since 1990.

Domestic financing and foreign donor support along with strong leadership is attributed to the progress, says WHO’s Director-General Margaret Chan.

However, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "This is major progress. But it is no cause for complacency."

He continued: "Too many millions still develop TB each year, and too many die. I urge serious and sustained support for TB prevention and care, especially for the world's poorest and most vulnerable people."

WHO says that money is the key to the current progress and there is still an estimated shortage of $1billion for next year. The disease is also appearing in multi-drug resistant form, which will be more of a challenge in the future.