Grand Mufti raises alarm over tuberculosis spread in Libya

Libya’s Grand Mufti, Sadiq Al-Ghariani, has warned of alarming health indicators suggesting a growing risk of tuberculosis spreading across the country, describing the situation as nearing a potential epidemic.

Al-Ghariani said that medical reports from health institutions point to a noticeable rise in tuberculosis cases, stressing that the disease is highly contagious and can be fatal if left untreated.

According to hospital statistics cited by the Grand Mufti, approximately 60 per cent of registered tuberculosis patients are African migrants, highlighting what he described as a serious public health challenge.

He added that irregular migration is no longer limited to transit towards Europe, but has increasingly shifted towards settlement within Libya, driven in part by access to free medical treatment for serious illnesses, including tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

Al-Ghariani warned that these developments place Libya’s healthcare system under severe strain and require urgent action by the relevant authorities to prevent the spread of disease and protect public health.