The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that severe funding cuts, particularly from the United States, are endangering decades of progress in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB), the world’s deadliest infectious disease. The organization stressed that critical prevention, testing, and treatment services are collapsing, putting millions of lives at risk.

Regions most affected by these funding shortages include Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific, where national TB programs heavily rely on international financial support. WHO’s Director of the Global Programme on TB and Lung Health, Tereza Kasaeva, emphasized that any disruption—whether financial, political, or operational—could have devastating and potentially fatal consequences worldwide.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres had previously raised concerns about the funding crisis on February 24, warning that reductions in financial aid would immediately affect key global health initiatives targeting TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and cholera. Over the past two decades, global TB efforts have saved over 79 million lives, with an estimated 3.65 million deaths prevented in the past year alone. A major driver of this success has been U.S. government funding, which has contributed approximately $200 to $250 million annually—accounting for nearly a quarter of total international donor funding for TB programs.

However, newly announced U.S. budget cuts for 2025 are expected to have severe consequences, particularly in 18 high-burden countries that collectively receive 89 percent of U.S. TB funding. The cuts could result in treatment disruptions, massive staff layoffs, and an increase in TB transmission, especially in Africa.

Early reports indicate that affected countries are already experiencing major setbacks due to funding constraints. These include shortages of essential drugs, disruptions in supply chains, the collapse of TB data and surveillance systems, and significant reductions in research and development funding. The most pressing concern remains the potential breakdown of frontline healthcare services, which could reverse years of progress in TB control.

Kasaeva stressed the urgent need for immediate action, stating that the global community must respond swiftly and strategically to prevent hard-earned gains from being lost. She reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to working with governments, civil society, and global partners to secure sustainable funding and implement integrated solutions that will protect vulnerable populations and sustain momentum toward eradicating TB.