Portugal recorded 1,536 cases of tuberculosis in 2024, the lowest figure ever, according to a report from the Directorate-General for Health.
“We saw a reduction in the incidence rate compared to 2015 numbers of around 31.8%, [mas] still a little short of what we hope to achieve the goal of reducing incidence by 90% by 2035”, as defined by the World Health Organization, said the deputy of the DGS National Tuberculosis Program.
Sofia Sousa also highlighted the positive evolution in mortality, indicating that in 2024 there were 50 deaths from tuberculosis, a reduction of almost 70% in relation to 2015 numbers, which brings Portugal closer to international targets.
According to the report, Lisbon and the Tagus Valley and the North remained the regions with the highest incidencewith 17.1 and 16.4 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, respectively.
The official explained that this concentration is due to greater population density, the presence of vulnerable groups, associated comorbidities and urban factors such as overcrowding, which contribute to “an increase in the number of cases, which has been occurring for a long time”.
Men continue to represent the majority of cases
Of the total cases, 1,418 correspond to new cases and 118 to retreatments. You hmen continue to be most affected (64.4% of total cases), while children and adolescents up to 15 years old accounted for 2.4% of notifications.
The migrant population remained the most vulnerable group, with a notification rate 2.7 times higher than the national averagerepresenting 39.1% of cases in 2024, an increase compared to 2023 (35.7%).
According to the report, the time between the onset of symptoms and the start of treatment remained within the 81 dias in 2024, while the patient’s delay in reaching treatment decreased to 41 days (43 days in 2023) and the delay in healthcare increased to 14 days (13 days in 2023).
Sofia Sousa considered that this interval “is still very high”, highlighting that the delay in seeking medical help continues to be one of the main challenges, defending the reinforcement of health literacy and proximity to services.
He mentioned that in 2024 a reorganization of care began, with tuberculosis consultations integrated with respiratory care consultations in the community, in local health units, and the creation of reference centers in Lisbon and Porto for more complex cases, such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
In 2024, they were notified 36 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis63.6% more compared to 2023, mainly concentrated in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (63.9%).
The majority occurred in men and there was one case of a four-year-old child of Angolan origin. Of the 36 cases, 24 occurred in migrants, mainly from Angola, Brazil and Guinea-Bissau.
Sofia Sousa said that several strategies have been implemented to improve surveillance of this type of case, including at a molecular level, to understand which strains are being introduced and where they are.
A treatment success rate reached 82.1%the highest value in recent years, which, according to the DGS, reflects “the quality of clinical monitoring in Portugal, but still far from international targets”.
In 2024, 4,315 cases of latent infection were treated, the highest figure ever, highlighting the results of screening in the highest risk groups.
Despite the positive evolution, the DGS warns that “a worrying slowdown” at the rate of reduction in the incidence of the disease between 2020 and 2024.
This trend, associated with the increase in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and the growing concentration of the disease in vulnerable populations, requires “a strategic reorientation” to achieve WHO goals, he argued.
Remember that tuberculosis is a curable and preventable diseasehighlighting the role of preventive treatments in reducing the risk of developing active disease, especially in people with risk factors, such as contacts of patients, people with HIV or immunosuppression.
He highlighted the importance of raising awareness of symptoms, such as persistent cough and weight lossencouraging the population to seek health care in a timely manner.
On the other hand, he highlighted, combating stigma remains a challenge, and it is essential to speak openly about the disease, “give a voice to those who are sick” and promote early diagnosis, helping to ensure that tuberculosis is no longer seen as a disease “that no longer exists or that should no longer exist”.
