New Delhi, Nov. 13 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday called on countries in the South-East Asia Region to accelerate action to end tuberculosis with stronger political leadership, enhanced domestic investment, expanded access to newer rapid diagnostics and treatment through coordinated action across sectors.

The latest TB estimates show the Region accounts for 3.6 million people who developed TB in 2025 - 34% of the global total - and 400000 TB-related deaths, or 35% of the global total.

The Region also accounted for around 38% of the global burden of rifampicin-resistant and multidrug-resistant TB, with an estimated 140000 people developing these forms of the disease.

"These numbers are a stark reminder that TB remains ...