Belgium needs to step up its efforts to meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) tuberculosis targets, as 869 new cases were reported in 2023, the Walloon association for respiratory diseases, FARES said on Monday.
With World Tuberculosis Day approaching on 24 March, the association is calling for intensified efforts to combat the disease and meet the targets.
“The situation remains stable, with a slight downward trend in the number of cases, but at this rate, Belgium is clearly not meeting the targets,” says Fares.
The WHO aims for an 80% reduction in tuberculosis cases from 2015 to 2030, which translates to an annual decrease of 10%. However, Belgium has seen an average annual reduction of only 2% since 2015. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) notes that there is a higher incidence of the disease in Belgium than in neighbouring countries.
“Tuberculosis remains a significant challenge because it primarily affects the most vulnerable populations,” FARES stressed. According to the association, the disease is declining slowly in the Belgian population but remains higher among foreign nationals (35.5 cases).
The disease is also more prevalent in major cities such as Brussels, with 21.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 5.2 in Flanders and 6.9 in Wallonia.
FARES also calls for an end to stigmatisation. “People with tuberculosis are rejected and discriminated against, which can discourage them from getting tested or seeking treatment,” says the association.
“World leaders have acknowledged the urgent need to end the tuberculosis epidemic, but as of early 2025, we are still waiting for concrete action on those promises,” Fares lamented.
