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

Portugal has made progress in tackling tuberculosis, with deaths dropping by nearly 70% since 2015. New data for 2024 shows a 31.8% fall in incidence rates over the same period. Yet some regions and groups still face higher risks than others.

Last year, 4,315 cases of latent tuberculosis infection received treatment. The average delay between symptom onset and starting treatment was 81 days. Meanwhile, the treatment success rate climbed to 82.1%.

The number of deaths fell to 50 in 2024, down sharply from previous years. However, multidrug-resistant cases rose by 63.6%, reaching 36 reports. Men made up 64.4% of all tuberculosis cases recorded. Lisbon, the Tagus Valley, and the North region remained the worst-affected areas. Migrant communities also saw higher notification rates—2.7 times above the national average.

Portugal's tuberculosis death rate has plummeted since 2015, and overall cases continue to decline. But challenges persist, including drug-resistant strains and regional disparities. Health authorities will need to address these gaps to maintain progress.