Tuberculosis is on the rise: warning signs for Europe and Luxembourg

The world may be on the verge of a new wave of tuberculosis: 1.25 million people died from it in 2023. According to WHO, the disease continues to affect regions with vulnerable health systems - primarily Africa, South-East Asia and the Pacific. But an alarming rise is also being recorded in Europe, with almost 37,000 new cases reported in the EU and EEA, 2,000 more than a year earlier. The trend among children is particularly frightening, with the proportion of patients under the age of 15 rising for the third year in a row.

The head of the Vaccine Alliance, Sania Nishtar, has warned of the serious consequences of US funding cuts. Gavi, a key player in the international fight against infections, helps the poorest countries run vaccination campaigns against COVID-19, Ebola, polio, malaria, cholera, typhoid, rabies and, of course, tuberculosis. The White House's decision to dramatically reduce support threatens to undermine decades of efforts in this direction.

Against this backdrop, MP Sven Clement asked Health Minister Martine Deprez about Luxembourg's preparedness for an increase in the number of people falling ill.

According to the ministry, in 2023, the country conducted 1,615 IGRA (latent tuberculosis diagnosis) tests, of which a significant proportion were positive. Although the probability of developing an active form is between 5 and 10 per cent, 46 cases were actually recorded - which, according to the minister, indicates a "low incidence and a satisfactory situation".

Current measures include mandatory screening of all third-country nationals seeking residence permits or international protection, as well as the obligation for doctors and laboratories to report detected infections within 24 hours. However, the Ministry of Health is working on a new biological threat response plan that will be part of the forthcoming health law.

While France is reassessing the effectiveness of its diagnostic system and the UK is developing a new TB control plan, Luxembourg favours a preventive approach. However, it is possible that the consequences of the US budget policy will soon affect Europe as well: if global control is weakened, the infection may return to regions where it has long been thought to be defeated.