Portugal cuts tuberculosis deaths by 70% but faces drug-resistant surge

Portugal has made significant progress in its fight against tuberculosis, according to the latest 2024 figures. Deaths from the disease have dropped by nearly 70% since 2015, while treatment success rates now stand at over 82%. Yet challenges remain, with rising cases of drug-resistant strains and persistent regional disparities.

In 2024, Portugal recorded 4,315 treated cases of latent tuberculosis infection. The country also saw a 31.8% decline in overall incidence rates compared to 2015. Despite this improvement, the average delay between symptom onset and treatment start remained long, at 81 days.

Men represented 64.4% of all reported cases, while migrant populations faced a notification rate 2.7 times higher than the national average. The hardest-hit regions included Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, along with the North. One concerning trend was the rise in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Reported cases jumped by 63.6% from 2023, reaching 36 in 2024. Meanwhile, total tuberculosis deaths fell to 50, marking a sharp decline over the past decade.

The 2024 data highlights both progress and ongoing struggles in Portugal's tuberculosis response. While treatment success and declining deaths reflect positive strides, the increase in drug-resistant cases and regional hotspots demand continued attention. Health authorities will need to address these gaps to sustain the downward trend in infections and fatalities.