Brussels, March 18, 2025 – Belgium must accelerate its efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) if it hopes to meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) targets, as 869 new cases were reported in 2023, according to the Walloon association for respiratory diseases, FARES.
With World Tuberculosis Day approaching on March 24, the association is calling for urgent and intensified action to curb the disease.
“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,” FARES stated on Monday.
The WHO has set ambitious goals to reduce tuberculosis cases by 80% from 2015 to 2030, which translates to an annual decline of 10%.
However, Belgium has only seen an average annual reduction of 2% since 2015, far below the required pace. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also flagged Belgium’s TB incidence as higher than that of its neighbouring countries.
Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Communities
FARES highlights that tuberculosis continues to affect Belgium’s most vulnerable populations, including foreign nationals, who have an incidence rate of 35.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Major cities, particularly Brussels, are also disproportionately affected, with 21.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 5.2 in Flanders and 6.9 in Wallonia.
“Tuberculosis remains a significant challenge because it primarily affects people in precarious living conditions,” FARES stressed.
The association warns that without targeted policies to address high-risk groups, Belgium will struggle to make meaningful progress in reducing TB cases.
Call to End Stigmatisation and Strengthen Action
Beyond the slow decline in cases, FARES is also advocating for an end to the stigmatisation of tuberculosis patients, warning that discrimination can discourage individuals from seeking timely diagnosis and treatment.
“People with tuberculosis are rejected and discriminated against, which can discourage them from getting tested or seeking treatment,” the association said.
Belgium’s public health response to TB has made some strides, but experts argue that more needs to be done. Increased funding, better access to healthcare for at-risk populations, and stronger public awareness campaigns are among the measures that could help accelerate progress.
Global Promises Yet to Be Fulfilled
Despite repeated commitments from world leaders to end the tuberculosis epidemic, progress remains slow.
“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.
As World Tuberculosis Day approaches, FARES urges Belgium to implement more aggressive strategies to combat the disease. Without immediate and enhanced efforts, the country risks falling further behind in meeting global targets to eliminate tuberculosis by 2030.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
