Aizawl, March 24 Mizoram recorded 145 deaths due to tuberculosis and 2,275 new tuberculosis cases over the past year, according to data released by the state Health Department on Tuesday.
Of the 2,275 people diagnosed with tuberculosis last year, 1,364 were males and 911 were females, the data said.
One hundred and forty-six people were diagnosed with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and 267 others were found to be suffering from both tuberculosis and HIV, it said.
The Aizawl district recorded the highest number of cases at 1,569, followed by the Lunglei district (155), and the Kolasib district, bordering Assam, reported 138 cases during the same year.
Of the 2,275 new cases found in 2025, 1,900 were detected in government facilities, while the remaining 375 cases were found in private facilities, according to officials.
While 31 people died of tuberculosis in 2020, the number of fatalities increased to 46 in 2021, 87 in 2022, 119 in 2023, and 136 in 2024, they said.
Officials said that a healthy competition is currently underway to establish villages free from tuberculosis, known as the "TB-Free Village" initiative.
During 2025, as many as 150 villages across Mizoram were eligible to be declared tuberculosis-free.
Among these, 74 villages achieved tuberculosis-free status for one year, 58 villages achieved the milestone for two consecutive years, and 18 villages have remained tuberculosis-free for three consecutive years, they said.
Within the Aizawl district, there are 19 villages eligible to be declared tuberculosis-free, 4 of which have maintained this status for two years in a row, officials said.
Meanwhile, World Tuberculosis Day was observed in different parts of the state on Tuesday.
In her video message on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, Health Minister Lalrinpuii expressed her appreciation for the emergence of several "tuberculosis-free villages" across the state, attributing this milestone to the synergy between government departments, churches, and local communities.
The minister stressed that early detection remains the most important factor in stopping the transmission of the disease.
Citing that tuberculosis is a disease that can be eradicated, Lalrinpuii said that for those suspected of having tuberculosis, getting tested and treated immediately is the most vital step in preventing the further spread of the disease.