World Tuberculosis Day 2026
On World Tuberculosis Day 2026, tuberculosis will once again be in the public spotlight. Despite existing prevention and treatment options, it remains the deadliest infectious disease caused by a single pathogen worldwide. In Germany, too, tuberculosis remains a significant public health challenge.
According to preliminary data from the Robert Koch Institute, a total of 4,069 cases of tuberculosis were reported in 2025—a decrease of about eight percent compared to 2024. However, significantly larger annual declines would be necessary to achieve the World Health Organization’s elimination target by 2050. Tuberculosis is considered eliminated only when there is fewer than one case per million inhabitants.
Combating tuberculosis requires a significant amount of effort. Public health departments play a key role in this effort: they ensure early diagnosis, treatment in accordance with guidelines, and the screening and counseling of contacts. Studies from the field show that environmental investigations, in particular, have great preventive potential—provided they are coordinated and systematically documented.
Tuberculosis disproportionately affects socially disadvantaged and marginalized groups. In addition, migration and international mobility from crisis-stricken regions influence the epidemiological situation. Experts therefore emphasize the importance of low-barrier access to counseling and screening services, as well as culturally sensitive, non-discriminatory communication when interacting with those affected.
The majority of reported cases continue to involve people born abroad. Against this backdrop, tuberculosis prevention among new immigrants is becoming increasingly important. The new S3 guideline “TB Risk – Prevention of Tuberculosis in New Immigrants,” developed under the leadership of the DZK, provides important guidance for clinical practice in this area.
Tuberculosis control requires close collaboration among various disciplines and institutions. A key forum for this is the annual symposium marking World Tuberculosis Day, organized by the Robert Koch Institute in cooperation with the German Central Committee against and the Research Center Borstel – Leibniz Lung Center. With around 1,000 registrations, this year’s event has generated significant interest and underscores the ongoing relevance of the topic.
