Globally in 2024 the total number of new cases of tuberculosis (TB) was estimated at 10.7 million, of which 3.3% were observed in the WHO region of the Americas. The number of TB deaths was estimated globally at 1.08 million, with the Americas experiencing a peak in 2022, followed by a decline in 2023 and a stabilisation in 2024 (WHO, 2025[1]). Most cases of TB are preventable if diagnosed early and appropriate treatment is provided. TB was declared a global health emergency by WHO in 1993 and the Sustainable Development Goals foresee the end of the epidemic by 2030.
The highest incidence rate was seen in Haiti, Peru and El Salvador, with 175, 139, and 116 cases per 100 000 population in 2024, respectively (Figure 3.24. left panel). Low incidence rates were reported particularly in the Caribbean region with below two cases per 100 000 population in Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada. The highest numbers of confirmed cases of rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in 2024 were found in Peru and Brazil with 2 379 and 1 417 cases, respectively (Figure 3.24, right panel). These levels are consistent with high-coverage active case-finding and molecular testing strategies in both countries. The lowest number of resistant cases were observed in Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados and Dominica, among others.
High-quality TB services have expanded in LAC countries; however, great disparities are found in the region. The treatment success rates were excellent in Barbados, with 100% success and in El Salvador, Cuba, Nicaragua and Costa Rica with more than 85% success rate. In contrast, the treatment success rate is lowest in Jamaica with 38%, followed by Saint Lucia with 50%, well below the LAC30 average of 74% (Figure 3.25 – left panel).
In general, the LAC region is rising to the challenges presented by TB, with incidence and mortality declining steadily since 1990 despite regional disparities. The average reduction of incidence in the LAC region between 2000 and 2024 was 54%. The strongest decline in this period was observed in Saint Lucia, Honduras and Jamaica with more than 80% reduction, while in El Salvador incidence increased two‑fold, moving from 58 to 116 cases per 100 000 population between 2000 and 2024 (Figure 3.25 – right panel).
In 2023, the Americas region reported a higher number of TB cases compared to pre‑pandemic levels; however, 80% of cases were concentrated in eight countries (PAHO, 2025[2]). The fight against MDR-TB requires molecular techniques, including rapid molecular diagnostic tests, culture methods or sequencing technologies, which are often unavailable in countries that need them the most. The ShORRT (Short, all-Oral Regimens For Rifampicin-resistant Tuberculosis) initiative, aligned with WHO guidelines for DR-TB treatment, is currently being implemented in some LAC countries including Argentina, Dominican Republic, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador. These fully oral, modified short treatment regimens offer substantial benefits by shortening treatment duration compared to standard therapies, thereby improving patient adherence. Their effectiveness has already been evaluated in the Dominican Republic, where national guidelines have been updated accordingly (Rodríguez et al., 2025[3]). However, adoption of these regimens is still limited in the LAC region, and expanding their implementation could further improve regional MDR-TB control.
