health
May 5, 2026
Tuberculosis Cases in Cartagena: This is the Outlook So Far in 2026
Tuberculosis still represents a significant challenge for global public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that it is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium - the tubercle bacillus - that usually affects the lungs.
TL;DR
- Colombia has reported 6,992 tuberculosis cases year-to-date as of April 25, 2026.
- Cartagena has recorded 163 tuberculosis cases in the same period.
- Nationally, 170 cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis have been reported, with three in Cartagena.
- The District Administrative Department of Health (Dadis) is implementing prevention, early detection, and control strategies in Cartagena.
- Tuberculosis is an infectious disease affecting the lungs, transmitted through the air, and is preventable and curable but can be fatal if untreated.
- Symptoms include persistent cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.
- Treatment involves specific antibiotics, with different drugs used for drug-resistant forms.