Key insights

• 💀 Tuberculosis, also known as the White Death, has haunted humanity for thousands of years
• 😷 In 1815, it caused one in four deaths in Britain
• 🌍 It has killed a billion people in the last 200 years, more than all wars and natural disasters combined
• 🦠 Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the cause of tuberculosis, our original arch enemy
• 🌎 Tuberculosis remains a deadly infectious disease, primarily affecting Africa, South America, and Asia
• 💊 TB can be cured with antibiotics but remains deadliest infectious disease due to lack of access to cure
• 💉 New drugs and vaccines offer hope for treating TB
• 👥 Partners in Health is actively involved in TB treatment and care

Q&A

• Can tuberculosis be fought and eradicated?

  Tuberculosis can be fought with new drugs, vaccines, and awareness. Although it was a major health crisis in the US, organizations like Partners in Health are leading the fight to treat and eradicate tuberculosis.

• Which regions are primarily affected by tuberculosis?

  Tuberculosis primarily affects Africa, South America, and Asia. The lack of aggressive action and antibiotic resistance have exacerbated the issue, leading to limited access to a cure in these regions.

• How does tuberculosis spread?

  Tuberculosis spreads through coughs and sneezes, infecting 5-15 people in a year. Active tuberculosis can lead to a burst of infection, causing lung damage and the spread of bacteria through coughing.

• Why is tuberculosis difficult to eradicate?

  The TB bug is a powerful immune system parasite that evades and exploits the body's defense mechanisms. It can resist the body's immune responses and antibiotics, leading to a prolonged struggle to contain the infection.

• How does Mycobacterium tuberculosis infect the body?

  The bacterium enters the body through the airways and primarily sets up home in the lungs, causing a slow and serious infection that can last for weeks to months if left untreated.

• What is tuberculosis?

  Tuberculosis, also known as the White Death, is a highly infectious and deadly disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It has plagued humanity for centuries, infecting one in four humans alive today.

• 00:00 Tuberculosis, also known as the White Death, is a highly infectious and deadly disease that has plagued humanity for centuries. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and has a very high kill count, infecting one in four humans alive today.
• 01:43 The TB bug is a powerful immune system parasite that can evade and exploit the body's defense mechanisms, making it difficult to eradicate.
• 03:26 Tuberculosis infection creates a protective space in the body for bacteria, leading to a stalemate. Active tuberculosis can lead to a burst of infection, causing lung damage and the spread of bacteria through coughing.
• 05:06 TB is a slow, serious disease that can last for weeks to months if left untreated and can overtake the body over months, years, or even decades. It spreads through coughs and sneezes, infecting 5-15 people in a year.
• 06:51 Tuberculosis remains a deadly infectious disease, primarily affecting Africa, South America, and Asia. The lack of aggressive action and antibiotic resistance have exacerbated the issue.
• 08:42 Tuberculosis, a deadly disease, can be fought with new drugs, vaccines, and awareness. It was a major health crisis in the US but can be eradicated. Partners in Health is leading the fight.