Uttarakhand records 28,608 TB cases in 2025, slight dip from previous year

Dehradun: Uttarakhand recorded 28,608 tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2025, a slight decline from 29,038 in 2024, according to data released by the state health department on the occasion of World TB Day on Tuesday.District-wise data for 2025 showed the highest number of cases in Dehradun (8,983), followed by Haridwar (6,598) and Udham Singh Nagar (5,134). Other districts reported lower caseloads, including Nainital (3,110) and Pauri Garhwal (1,337), with the fewest cases in Rudraprayag (290).Director of Uttarakhand National Health Mission, Dr Rashmi Pant, said, "The state successfully treated 26,327 patients, achieving a treatment success rate of nearly 91%. Around Rs 13.7 crore was disbursed under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana out of the Rs 16.8 crore budget for 2025."Health workers and community members were felicitated at the Raj Bhavan in Dehradun on Tuesday, where top-performing districts in TB case notification and treatment were also announced. Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd) praised their efforts, calling them a "ray of hope" in the fight against the disease.Officials noted that some cases involved residents who were infected outside the state but recorded in Uttarakhand, contributing to the state exceeding its TB notification target. Since Dec 2024, over 14.1 lakh vulnerable individuals have been enrolled, with around 4.6 lakh undergoing X-ray screening, the department said.