Ciudad juárez experienced the highest number of tuberculosis-related deaths in Mexico during 2025, with 35 fatalities reported in the border city, according to recently released data from the Secretary of Health.the figures underscore the continued prevalence of this infectious disease,particularly impacting vulnerable populations along the U.S.-Mexico border [[2]]. Health officials reported 890 confirmed cases statewide, with Ciudad Juárez accounting for nearly 40% of those infections, highlighting a significant public health concern requiring sustained attention and resources [[1]].
Ciudad Juárez – Thirty-five people in Ciudad Juárez died from tuberculosis in 2025, making the border city the location with the highest number of tuberculosis-related deaths in the country, according to data released by the Secretary of Health.
The data indicates a total of 120 tuberculosis deaths statewide by the end of December 2025, alongside 890 confirmed cases of the disease, including 344 in Ciudad Juárez. This highlights the ongoing public health challenge of tuberculosis, particularly in border regions.
The age groups most affected by fatalities along the border were individuals aged 65 and older, accounting for 10 deaths, and those between 50 and 54 years old, with eight deaths, health officials reported.
The city of Chihuahua recorded 17 deaths; Bocoyna and Guachochi each reported 11 deaths; Cuauhtémoc saw 8 deaths; Guadalupe and Calvo had 7; Urique had 5; and Camargo and Guerrero each had 3 deaths. Buenaventura, Delicias, Hidalgo del Parral, Ocampo, and Uruachi each reported 2 deaths, while Ahumada, Balleza, Batopilas, Chínipas, Gran Morelos, Jiménez, Meoqui, Morelos, and Nonoava each reported 1 case. Additionally, one case remains unidentified as to location, the state health department stated.
In Ciudad Juárez, of the confirmed tuberculosis cases, 293 were pulmonary tuberculosis, 6 were meningeal, and 45 were classified as other types, without further specification.
Lorenzo Soberanes Maya, secretary of the Colegio de Médicos de Ciudad Juárez, explained that tuberculosis is a generally chronic infectious disease caused by species of the genus Mycobacterium, specifically M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. The disease is transmitted from an infected person to a healthy individual through inhalation of infectious material via droplets of saliva when a sick person coughs, spits, or sneezes, or through the consumption of contaminated cow’s milk.
Tuberculosis is classified as either pulmonary or extrapulmonary (TBEP). Pulmonary tuberculosis most commonly affects the lungs, while extrapulmonary tuberculosis damages other organs, such as bones, kidneys, and the nervous system.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is caused by the Mycobacterium bacteria and presents with symptoms including a persistent cough (sometimes with blood), fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Meningeal tuberculosis, on the other hand, is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infecting the meninges – the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord – and represents a severe infection of these membranes.
The primary symptoms of meningeal tuberculosis include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, changes in mental status such as confusion and drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and photophobia.
Individuals experiencing these symptoms are advised to seek medical attention for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment, Dr. Soberanes Maya recommended.
“Tuberculosis remains a relevant public health problem on the northern border of Mexico,” the physician stated. “In 2025, more than four thousand 500 cases were reported nationwide, with an increase in border states like Baja California, Sonora, and Chihuahua, reflecting the vulnerability of binational communities.”
The states most affected are Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Tamaulipas, all of which share a direct border with the United States, he added. This underscores the need for continued vigilance and collaborative public health efforts in these regions.
