Bhubaneswar, March 24: The Odisha government’s target to make the state tuberculosis (TB)-free by 2025 is facing serious challenges as the number of cases continues to rise. Despite launching a special 100-day detection drive in 2024, the state has witnessed a steady increase in TB patients over the years.

During the campaign, healthcare workers conducted extensive field visits and identified 12,245 cases by March 2024. However, the numbers kept climbing, with a total of 60,423 TB cases detected by the end of 2025–26. The surge has raised concerns over the feasibility of achieving a TB-free Odisha in the near future.

Even as the government intensifies efforts through awareness campaigns and large-scale testing, the rising caseload remains a major worry. The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme is being implemented across the state, along with the distribution of nutritional support kits to patients. However, experts point to pollution and malnutrition as key factors contributing to the spread of the disease.

Official data shows a consistent rise in TB cases—from 45,330 in 2020 to 52,225 in 2021, and 60,185 in 2022. The numbers remained high in subsequent years, with 61,185 cases in 2023, 60,179 in 2024, and around 60,000 cases already reported in 2025. More than 70% of the patients are concentrated in districts such as Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, and Angul.

The situation in Bhubaneswar is equally alarming, with the annual caseload nearing 4,000. According to official figures, the city reported 2,357 cases in 2020, rising to 4,366 in 2024. At Capital Hospital, around 200 to 300 patients are visiting daily, prompting concern among health authorities.

TB specialist Dr. Sudam Chandra Sahu stressed the need for greater public awareness and early diagnosis. He noted that symptoms often go unnoticed in the initial stages, and persistent cough for more than three weeks is frequently ignored by patients. Overcrowded living conditions and poor ventilation, particularly in slum areas, further accelerate the spread of the disease.

Health experts have urged people to seek timely medical advice, maintain proper nutrition by consuming protein-rich foods, and wear masks in polluted areas. Meanwhile, under the central government’s ‘Nikshay’ scheme, TB patients are being provided ₹1,000 per month to support their nutritional needs.