Breath of Resilience: A Decade of Global Interventions for Pulmonary Tuberculosis (2015-2025)

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains the world’s second most deadly infectious disease. The WHO End TB Strategy (2015) sets ambitious goals for an 80% reduction in incidence and 90% reduction in deaths by 2030. This review assesses global progress and challenges during the 2015–2025 period. Methods: This literature and data review synthesized information on global TB incidence, mortality, and key intervention strategies. Results: The period saw a global decline in incidence and mortality, with high-burden countries like India achieving a notable 21% reduction in incidence since 2015. However, the disease remains a massive public health challenge, with 10.6 million new cases and 1.3 million deaths reported in 2022. Intervention efforts focused on developing shorter drug regimens (with improved success rates for drug-resistant TB, reaching 70–85%) and scaling up rapid molecular diagnostics. Crucial challenges include the persistent rise of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), the need for simpler point-of-care tests, and the lack of a highly effective new vaccine to replace the BCG vaccine. Conclusion: While global commitment and targeted interventions have demonstrated resilience and progress, the current pace is insufficient to meet the 2030 elimination targets. A sustained, strengthened global strategy requires the immediate development and deployment of innovative tools—including effective new vaccines and simplified diagnostics—alongside robust political and financial support to overcome the tenacity of DR-TB and ensure the global eradication of TB by 2035.