Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued a serious health alert, warning that a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks could be a symptom of tuberculosis (TB)—the world’s deadliest infectious disease. This alert comes as World Tuberculosis Day 2025 is observed today, calling for urgent global action to eliminate the disease.
The warning follows 289 confirmed TB cases in Ireland in 2024, nearly double the target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) under its End TB Strategy. Although significantly reduced from the nearly 7,000 annual cases recorded in the 1950s, tuberculosis remains a major public health issue in the country.
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it primarily affects the lungs, it can also impact other parts of the body such as the bones, glands, and occasionally the brain. The disease is transmitted through airborne particles when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings.
The HSE urges individuals experiencing a cough lasting over three weeks, especially when accompanied by symptoms such as fever, night sweats, weight loss, or blood in phlegm, to seek medical attention promptly. Early diagnosis is essential, as tuberculosis is both preventable and curable.
Health officials emphasize that TB disproportionately affects vulnerable populations—particularly those living in overcrowded conditions or with limited access to healthcare. The HSE underscored the ongoing need for vigilance, stating: “No one is safe until everyone is safe.”
Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre echoed these concerns, highlighting that the country should aim for an 80% reduction in TB cases between 2015 and 2030. Based on this target, there should have been only 139 TB cases reported in 2024, far fewer than the 289 recorded.
Officials also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted TB control efforts globally, including in Ireland, making renewed commitment and investment more crucial than ever.
To address this, the HSE launched its first-ever National TB Strategy last year, titled Striving to End Tuberculosis: A Strategy for Ireland 2024–2030. The strategy outlines a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach to eliminate TB and reduce health inequities across the population.
