Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious bacterial infection that affects the lungs and can also affect other parts of the body. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared tuberculosis a global health threat on World Tuberculosis Day.

This day is observed on 24th March every year to increase awareness on the disease and help prevent it from spreading.

What is TB?

TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or spits.

The infection primarily affects the lungs, but can also impact other parts of the body like the bones, joints, kidneys and brain.

Statistics on TB

According to WHO, TB is one of the top 10 causes of deaths worldwide. In 2019, around 10 million people fell ill with TB and 1.4 million died from the disease. The majority of TB deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries.

Why has WHO declared TB a global health threat?

WHO has declared TB a global health threat because it is considered a leading cause of death worldwide.

TB is a preventable and treatable disease, yet millions of people continue to suffer and die from it each year either because they are not diagnosed, or they are diagnosed but not treated appropriately. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of TB further complicates the control of the disease.

Prevention and Treatment of TB

Prevention and treatment of TB are critical to controlling the spread of the disease.

TB can be prevented by maintaining good hygiene habits like washing hands frequently, covering mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoiding close contact with infected people.

TB can be cured through appropriate treatment with a combination of antibiotics for 6-9 months. Failure to complete the treatment regimen can lead to the development of drug-resistant TB strains, which are much harder to treat.

Challenges in TB control

TB control faces several challenges, including a lack of funding, poor public awareness, limited access to diagnosis and treatment, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains.

Global efforts to Combat TB

The World Health Organization and its partners are working towards ending TB globally by 2030. Efforts include expanding access to diagnosis and treatment, improving TB prevention, and research and development for new TB vaccines and medicines.

Several initiatives like the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Stop TB Partnership, the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy are working towards eliminating TB.

Conclusion

TB remains a serious global public health threat with detrimental social and economic implications.

Although the world has made significant progress in controlling the disease over the years, there is still much work to be done to reduce TB deaths and eliminate the disease altogether.