Despite advances in modern medicine, tuberculosis remains a "silent killer" in Côte d'Ivoire. Between chronic underdiagnosis and rapid spread, the epidemic remains a major challenge for the Ivorian health system in 2026.

1. A national burden: more than 20,000 cases each year

The epidemiological situation in Ivory Coast reveals a worrying persistence of the disease. According to the Ministry of Health:

1. In 2025: 21,587 cases were officially detected.
2. Ratio: Approximately 99 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
3. Actual incidence: The WHO estimates that the actual figure exceeds 130 cases per 100,000 inhabitants , highlighting a discrepancy between the recorded cases and the reality on the ground.

2. The danger of "missing cases": 140,000 potential infections

The major challenge identified by Professor Domoua Kouao Médard Serge is under-detection. In 2023, out of 37,000 expected cases, only 21,877 were reported.

The calculation is simple and frightening: More than 14,000 people are unaware of their condition. Given that an untreated patient infects between 10 and 15 people per year , these undetected cases could generate more than 140,000 new infections .

3. Transmission dynamics and at-risk populations

Tuberculosis does not strike randomly. Recent data shows a concentration in specific segments of society:

Specific environments (Ivorian data):

1. Prison environment: 374 cases.
2. Healthcare personnel: 107 cases.
3. Private sector (businesses and clinics): 174 cumulative cases.

Aggravating factors and comorbidities:

1. HIV: The risk of developing an active form is 7 to 10% per year in untreated HIV-positive individuals.
2. Diabetes: 31% of tuberculosis patients are also diabetic, a factor that considerably increases the risk of mortality.
3. Demographics: The most affected age group is the 35-44 year olds , directly impacting the driving force of the economy.

4. The threat of multi-resistance

Resistance to conventional treatments complicates the response. In 2024, of the 724 reported cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis , only 454 were successfully treated . This gap between diagnosis and treatment fosters the emergence of strains that are even more difficult to eradicate.

5. Improved infrastructure, but an effort to maintain

Ivory Coast has significantly strengthened its reception capacity:

1. 2009: 137 care centers.
2. 2024: 380 operational centers.
3. However, infrastructure alone is not enough without proactive and massive screening within communities.

Global Focus: The leading cause of infectious disease death

On a global scale, the WHO figures for 2024 highlight the worldwide dimension of the crisis:

Category	Statistics 2024
Total infections	10.7 million people
Death	1.23 million (including 150,000 related to HIV)
Treatment success rate	88% for sensitive forms
Access to treatment (Multi-resistant)	Only 2 out of 5 patients

Conclusion: Break the chain

For Professor Domoua Kouao Médard Serge, the stakes are clear: every diagnosis is a victory. A recovered patient eliminates a source of contamination. Faced with a disease that can remain suspended in the air for 30 minutes in an enclosed space, collective vigilance and early detection are the only weapons capable of definitively breaking the chain of transmission in Côte d'Ivoire.