TB’s Evolution Unveiled: Why the Ancient Disease Persists

Quick Summary

• Tuberculosis (TB),caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis,remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases despite tools to combat it.
• Approximately a quarter of the global population has been infected by TB bacteria.
• In 2023, TB killed 1.2 million people, which is more than double the deaths caused by HIV or malaria.
• The microbe responsible for TB has evolved to be highly effective at spreading and infecting humans, aided substantially by its airborne transmission ability.
• Lack of political will in disease eradication contributes heavily to TB’s persistence as a global health crisis.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Tuberculosis poses a significant challenge globally and specifically for India, which bears some of the highest burdens due to dense populations and under-resourced healthcare systems. The data underscores an urgent need to address gaps in prevention, detection, and treatment infrastructure for this slow-moving but devastating disease. While international political inertia compounds the problem globally, India’s own national health policies must prioritize novel strategies targeting airborne pathogens like M. tuberculosis.Enhanced focus on public awareness campaigns coupled with improved access to diagnostics could be critical steps toward containing its spread.

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