Tuberculosis (TB) Surpasses COVID-19 as the World’s Deadliest Infectious Disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Tuberculosis (TB) has now surpassed COVID-19 as the deadliest infectious disease worldwide. In 2023 alone, TB claimed the lives of 1.25 million people and infected an alarming 10.8 million globally. Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, TB predominantly targets the lungs but can affect other organs as well. It spreads through the air and disproportionately affects low-income nations.
The symptoms of TB include a persistent cough, chest pain, night sweats, and significant weight loss. While TB is preventable and curable in most cases, it remains a critical global health threat, particularly for individuals with HIV or limited access to healthcare.
The WHO is calling for urgent global action to combat TB, with new vaccines in the pipeline and strategies in place to prevent future outbreaks. Global collaboration is key to overcoming this deadly disease and safeguarding global health.