Tuberculosis: The Facts and Issues

TB Facts:

• We have known the cause of TB for 125 years and have had affordable, effective medicines for 50 years.
• So why is TB still a problem? 83% of those with TB do not have access to the cure.
• One third of the world´s population is infected with the tuberculosis bacilli.
• Every year between 2 to 3 million people die of this curable disease.
• Someone dies of TB every 10 seconds.
• Almost everyone could have, should have been cured.
• Eight million people develop active TB every year.
• Each one can infect between 10 and
• 15 people in one year just by breathing.
• The best way to prevent TB is to treat and cure people who have it.

What if we do nothing?

• A person who has TB and is never diagnosed or treated loses an average of a full year work.
• Over 900 million women are infected with TB. This year two and a half million women will get sick from TB and one million will die. Most are between 15 and 44 years old.
• Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is at least 100 times more expensive to cure than non MDR-TB.

There is a cure... DOTS

• DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) has been identified by the World Bank as one of the most cost-effective health strategies available.
• DOTS costs only US $3 - $7 for every healthy year of life gained. DOTS gets people back to school, work and their families.