Ecuador TB Cases Reached 10,562 in 2025 as Prison Clusters Grew

Ecuador's tuberculosis data is drawing attention because the official numbers changed and the prison-system concentration is unusually high.

Primicias reports that Ecuador recorded 10,562 tuberculosis cases in 2025, which was 1,422 more than initially reported.

The outlet says the Health Ministry's transparency bulletin reported 676 deaths nationwide in 2025.

Prison Cases

Primicias reports that prisons accounted for 2,576 tuberculosis cases in 2025, out of the national total of 10,562.

The article also says a Health Ministry official had reported on February 13, 2026 that 609 people had died from tuberculosis in prisons in 2025, while the later bulletin adjusted the national death figure to 676 and classified deaths as outside prison, in prison or at home.

Primicias says the Health Ministry attributed the discrepancy to underreporting across two health systems.

What The Ministry Said About Data

According to Primicias, the ministry bulletin recognized that the difference between the two systems affects the timing of epidemiological surveillance.

The outlet also reports that the ministry strengthened prison tuberculosis screening from May 2025, including molecular tests, and that screening reached about 70% of the prison population by the end of the year.

What This Means For Expats

This is not a reason for daily-life panic, but it is a real public-health signal. The highest concern is inside prisons and detention facilities, where overcrowding and medical access can make infectious diseases harder to control.

For expats, the practical takeaway is to stay current with routine healthcare, take persistent coughs seriously and watch official health communications if you work with vulnerable populations or visit detention facilities.

Source: Primicias