Report confirms the downward trend of tuberculosis in the country: 1,536 cases of tuberculosis in 2024 is the lowest figure ever.
Portugal registered 1,536 cases of tuberculosis in 2024, the lowest price everaccording to a report from the Directorate-General for Health, which shows that among immigrants the rate is almost three times higher than the national average.
The Tuberculosis Surveillance and Monitoring Report in Portugal, released on World Tuberculosis Day, confirms the trend of descent of tuberculosis in the country, with a notification rate of 14.3 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants.
“We saw a reduction in the incidence rate in relation to the numbers of 2015 in the order of 31,8%, [mas] still a little short of what we hope to achieve the objective of reducing 90% of the incidence until 2035″, as defined by the World Health Organization, said the Lusa agency, deputy of the DGS National Tuberculosis Program.
Sofia Sousa also highlighted the positive evolution in mortality, indicating that in 2024 there was 50 deaths due to tuberculosis, a reduction almost 70% in relation to 2015 numbers, which brings Portugal closer to international targets.
According to the report, Lisbon and Tagus Valley and the Norte remained the regions with the highest incidence, with 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”.
Of the total cases, 1,418 correspond to new cases and 118 to retreatments. You men 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 population migrant remained the most vulnerable group, with a notification rate 2.7 times higher than the national averagerepresenting 39.1% two 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 in 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 “it 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 carewith 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, 36 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, 63.6% 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.
To charge of treatment success reached 82,1%, o highest value in recent yearswhich, 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, the highest value ever, highlighting the results of screening in the highest risk groups.
Despite the positive evolution, the DGS warns of “a worrying slowdown” not rhythm reduction in 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 awareness for symptoms, such as persistent cough and weight loss, encouraging 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”.
