Best-selling author John Green, known for >The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down, has emerged as an advocate for ending tuberculosis. Uploaded last year, his YouTube video, Barely Contained Rage: An Open Letter to Johnson & Johnson, has reached 1.4 million views.
The video highlighted how pharmaceutical companies set high prices for TB treatments. Costs remain out of reach to the most vulnerable populations to TB.
Green’s voice adds to the global call for TB action. The disease became the world’s deadliest in 2023, surpassing COVID-19. Though curable, TB kills millions yearly, especially in poorer regions. Global cooperation is improving, but efforts must redouble to reduce TB’s urgent threat.
Why Is Tuberculosis Considered the World’s Deadliest Disease?
In 2023, 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB. This record number is the highest since WHO started tracking in 1995. In 2022, COVID-19 was the deadliest infectious disease, but TB cases increased by 7.5 million last year. TB also led to 1.25 million deaths worldwide.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the death toll an “outrage.” Though preventable, TB remains a crisis in low- and middle-income countries, home to 98% of cases. These regions often lack resources to meet the need for TB treatment and prevention.
Why Is Tuberculosis So Deadly if It Is Curable?
Global TB funding dropped significantly in 2023. Only $5.7 billion of the $22 billion goal was raised, covering 26% of the total funding needed. The U.S. contributed the nearly $6 billion, which was still short of its overall goal. Funding gaps prevent effective treatment in countries with high TB rates.
India carries 26% of global TB cases, followed by Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%), and Pakistan (6.3%). Multidrug-resistant TB also complicates treatment. Of 400,000 affected, less than half received care last year. Families face severe financial strain, often spending over 20% of their income on TB care.
How Can the Global TB Crisis Be Improved?
Stigma around TB keeps many from seeking medical help. With more funding, rapid testing could expand, allowing faster diagnosis and treatment. Support could also reduce travel distances for those seeking care, improving access.
Funding could help families afford TB treatment by covering costs. These steps would narrow the gap between TB infections and treatment. Over a dozen TB vaccine candidates are in trials. One is in phase 3, which may yield the first new vaccine in a century.
Conclusion
Ending TB requires urgent funding and global cooperation. TB’s deadly toll demands immediate attention from international and local leaders. With sustained support, TB can become a disease of the past.
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Logan Hamilton is a health and wellness freelance writer for hire. He’s passionate about crafting crystal-clear, captivating, and credible content that elevates brands and establishes trust. When not writing, Logan can be found hiking, sticking his nose in bizarre books, or playing drums in a local rock band. Find him at loganjameshamilton.com.
