The HSE has issued an urgent warning that a specific type of cough could signal the world's deadliest infectious disease, tuberculosis, after over 200 cases were reported here last year.

This warning comes on World Tuberculosis Day 2025, which is being marked today and urgently calls for global commitment, investment and action to eradicate tuberculosis. It continues to devastate millions of people around the world, and while progress has been made in Ireland, the country's incidence rate is still higher than it should be.

The HSE says it remains "a significant public health issue in Ireland" and confirmed there were 289 reported cases here in 2024 - which is nearly double the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy target for the country.

While this is a significant improvement compared to the nearly 7,000 cases a year seen in the 1950s, the disease is still much more prevalent than it should be.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease primarily affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, glands, and, in rare cases, the brain.

Tuberculosis is most often spread through the air when an infectious person coughs, sneezes, talks or sings.

The HSE is urging anyone who experiences a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks to talk to a doctor.

This type of cough, along with other symptoms, could be a warning sign of an active tuberculosis infection.

The symptoms of tuberculosis can include any of the following:

  • Fever and night sweats
  • Cough (generally lasting more than three weeks)
  • Weight loss
  • Blood in the sputum (phlegm) at any time

A person with any of these symptoms should visit a doctor for advice. Tuberculosis is both preventable and curable, with early detection playing a key role in stopping its spread.

The HSE is emphasising the importance of awareness and urgent medical intervention, adding that tuberculosis is particularly dangerous for vulnerable people, including those living in overcrowded conditions or with limited access to healthcare.

It has stressed that the fight against tuberculosis is ongoing, stating: "No one is safe until everyone is safe".

Ireland's Health Protection Surveillance Centre said today: "World TB Day observed annually on March 24, amplifies the urgency of ending tuberculosis - once again the world's deadliest infectious disease."

"TB remains a significant public health issue both globally and in Ireland. Although there has been a significant decline in the incidence of TB in Ireland in recent decades, there were still 289 cases notified in 2024."

"Ireland should be aiming to achieve the WHO End TB Strategy target of an 80% reduction in TB cases between 2015 and 2030. This would have equated to approximately 139 cases being diagnosed in Ireland last year, less than half of what was actually diagnosed."

"Tuberculosis used to be more common in Ireland. There were nearly 7,000 cases a year in the early 1950s. The incidence of TB has declined steadily since then."

"The Covid Pandemic has adversely impacted on TB control both globally and in Ireland and a concerted effort remains necessary to get us back on target."

"Given TB is increasingly being seen among vulnerable and under-served populations in Ireland, we must remove any barriers to accessing TB care to reduce health inequities. This approach will ensure that people with TB have the best possible outcomes, a benefit to them but also protecting the wider population."

Last year, the HSE published 'Striving to End Tuberculosis: A Strategy for Ireland 2024-2030'. This is Ireland's first National TB Strategy and sets out the vision for a collaborative, multisectoral approach to TB control in Ireland.

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