AFP A man is tested for TB in the Philippines
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 09:31
Last year, more than eight million people had the infectious disease tuberculosis, according to a report reporting of the World Health Organization (WHO). That is the highest number measured since the health organization started keeping track of the number of infections.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. The infection is caused by airborne bacteria and can be contagious. It can be transmitted by sneezing and coughing. People with tuberculosis, a disease also called consumption, suffer from weight loss, night sweats, fatigue and coughing, for example. Without proper treatment, the disease can be fatal.
According to the WHO, about 1.25 million people died from TB last year. During the corona pandemic, Covid-19 was the infectious disease that caused the most deaths, but TB has now returned to being the infectious disease that causes the most deaths, says the WHO. TB will cause twice as many deaths as HIV by 2023.
‘Scandalous’
TB can be easily treated with medication. Yet the infectious disease still makes many people sick and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus finds this “scandalous”, because according to him there are “enough means to prevent, detect and treat it”.
People are particularly affected by TB in Southeast Asia, Africa and countries in the Western Pacific Ocean. About half of the eight million people infected with TB live there. Worldwide, the number of people dying from TB continues to decline and the number of people becoming infected is growing less rapidly.
Earlier this month, Doctors Without Borders and other organizations called on the American company Cepheid to make tests to detect TB cheaper. In the open letter, the doctors’ collective asked the company to help make tests more available worldwide and “prioritize people’s lives.”
In the Netherlands, the RIVM registered the disease TB in 710 people in the Netherlands in 2023, 12 percent more than the year before. 80 percent of people with TB in the Netherlands come from abroad, most of whom are from Eritrea. 471 patients had TB in the lungs and 213 had open TB, which is contagious.
TB Trouble: A Global Comedy of Errors
Well, well, well, look who’s back on the infectious disease stage. It’s Tuberculosis, or as some might call it, the “surprise guest” at the global health party—much like that uncle who shows up uninvited, with just a bit too much enthusiasm and a penchant for awful jokes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than eight million people were infected with TB last year—the highest number recorded since they started counting. That’s right, folks! TB is the comeback kid, out there making a scene while we were all distracted by a certain virus that shall not be named.
For those who have been binge-watching their favorite series and missed the memo, tuberculosis isn’t just a forgotten disease in an old textbook. It’s an airborne infection mainly targeting the lungs. Think of it as that annoying roommate who sneezes without covering their mouth, spreading the germs like confetti at a New Year’s party. Symptoms include night sweats, fatigue, weight loss—essentially, it’s like a really bad hangover that just won’t quit. And yes, if left untreated, it can be fatal, which is a heavy note to end on—so let’s not dwell there, shall we?
Scandalous Statistics
Here’s where it gets a bit scandalous. The WHO reports a staggering 1.25 million people have died from TB last year. Put that into perspective: during the pandemic, COVID-19 took the spotlight as the leading infectious disease, but it turns out TB just wasn’t ready to relinquish its crown. By 2023, TB is set to cause double the deaths of HIV. You could say it’s “back with a vengeance”—although, to be fair, vengefulness is a terrible quality for a disease.
WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, doesn’t mince words either—he calls this situation “scandalous.” Why? Because TB is one of the easiest diseases to treat if you have the right meds. And yet, here we are, watching a plethora of people suffer in places like Southeast Asia and Africa, where half of the eight million infected reside. Someone pass me a mimeograph and let’s get this message out before it turns into a public health horror film!
Meanwhile, some medical heroes (yes, that’s you, Doctors Without Borders) are waving their flags to demand that Cepheid, a major test-making company, cut the prices of TB tests. They say, “Put people’s lives first!” It’s about time someone told them that healthcare isn’t supposed to come with a side of outrageous bills!
TB In the Netherlands: A Local Perspective
Flip your compass to the Netherlands, where RIVM just reported 710 cases of TB in 2023, marking a 12% increase from last year—proving that TB doesn’t care about borders or the notion of a “peaceful, healthy society.” Approximately 80% of these patients hail from foreign lands, notably Eritrea. It’s like a game of health Monopoly, and somehow TB has the “Get Out of Jail Free” card.
Of these cases, 471 involved pulmonary TB and 213 cases were open, which is akin to leaving your front door wide open when the neighborhood’s rumored to have a spike in unwelcome guests! What’s next? A travel blog titled “Top 10 Countries for TB: What to Know Before You Go?” Just kidding, it’s not that kind of vibe!
So what do we take from all this? While we may laugh and roll our eyes, the truth is that tuberculosis is knocking at our door. And while the WHO is getting fired up about it, it’s time for all of us to pay attention and get involved. Because with all the resources we have, TB really shouldn’t be having as good a time as it is right now, don’t you think?
