Tuberculosis (TB) remains the deadliest infectious disease in the world. It is a global disease, found in every country and in approximately one quarter of the world’s population. Even though TB is a preventable, treatable and curable airborne infection, A total of 1.23 million people died from TB in 2024, which includes 150,000 among people with HIV. Moreover, the failure to diagnose and treat TB exacerbates multidrug-resistant TB, which remains a public health crisis and a threat to the global economy.
Those living in extreme poverty also have greater exposure to health threats and are less likely to have access to care when they fall sick. The overlap in poverty and TB means that addressing TB will not only prevent more lives from being lost but also make a positive impact on global poverty reduction efforts.
Without a renewed focus on fighting TB, the global epidemic could erase decades of progress in global efforts to end both TB and HIV/AIDS, much of which has been achieved through U.S. investment. Urge Congress to support the End Tuberculosis Now Act in order to continue to combat TB around the world.