611 TB deaths over the past 3 years, cases on the rise
Jalandhar has reported a staggering 611 deaths from Tuberculosis (TB) over the past three years (2022 to 2024), amid a steady rise in the number of TB cases. The ongoing 100-day TB Elimination Campaign, launched by the central government, aims to improve case detection and treatment outcomes as the district faces a growing TB burden.
The number of TB cases in Jalandhar has seen a sharp increase, from 4,509 cases in 2020 to 5,265 cases in 2024. Since 2020, a total of 24,771 TB cases have been reported in the district, including 13,301 men, 10,262 women, 1,190 children, and 18 transgender individuals. Out of these, 425 TB patients were HIV positive, and 302 patients had Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB.
The deaths recorded were 189 in 2022, 201 in 2023, and 221 in 2024. While the disease was historically more prevalent in men, the number of women diagnosed with TB has also risen significantly. Despite increased screening efforts, doctors attribute the rise in cases partly to improved case detection, with many previously hidden cases now being reported.
The 100-day TB Elimination Campaign, which runs from December 7, 2024, to March 24, 2025, has screened over 1.6 lakh patients in Jalandhar. As of January 2025, 842 individuals have been identified as TB-positive. Dr Ritu Dadra, District TB Officer, emphasised that TB is most prevalent in slum areas, where overcrowded living conditions and poor socio-economic status contribute to the spread of the disease. Smoking, alcoholism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), poor nutrition, diabetes, and HIV infection also increase susceptibility to TB.
Dr Dadra added that while there is no direct correlation between pollution and TB, chronic inflammation due to long-term steroid use in COPD patients could indirectly increase the risk of TB infection. The district’s increased TB screening efforts through government campaigns and private health reports have led to greater awareness and earlier detection of cases.
