Monday March 24th 2025 is World Tuberculosis Day. The theme for World TB Day 2025 is “Yes! We Can End TB”, reinforcing the idea that ending tuberculosis is possible with collective effort.
The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium, which causes TB. Despite medical advancements, TB remains a significant public health threat, particularly in India, which accounts for the highest number of TB cases worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death globally, with millions affected every year. The observance of World TB Day highlights the urgent need for early diagnosis, effective treatment, and preventive measures. The theme for World TB Day 2025 is “Yes! We Can End TB”, reinforcing the idea that ending tuberculosis is possible with collective effort. This theme encourages individuals, healthcare workers, and policymakers to work together to eliminate TB as a global health threat. The theme highlights the following.
1. The importance of government initiatives and healthcare policies.
2. Community involvement in spreading awareness and reducing stigma.
3. The role of innovative research and new treatments in fighting TB.
More information can be found on the WHO website here
- TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers.
- Each day, close to 3425 people lose their lives to TB and close to 30,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease.
- Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 79 million lives since the year 2000. There was a significant worldwide recovery in the scale-up of TB diagnosis and treatment services in 2022. It shows an encouraging trend starting to reverse the detrimental effects of COVID-19 disruptions on TB services.
- In its latest Global Tuberculosis Report, WHO highlighted that more than 8.2 million people with TB received access to diagnosis and treatment in 2023 up from 7.5 million in 2022 and far above the levels of 5.8 million in 2020 and 6.4 million in 2021. There is still a large global gap between the estimated number of people who fell ill with TB and the number of people newly diagnosed.
- In addition, the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting agreed on new targets to end TB, and we launched the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council, to facilitate the development, licensing, and equitable use of new TB vaccines.
- However, progress was insufficient to meet global TB targets set in 2018 with disruptions caused by the pandemic and ongoing conflicts being major contributing factors.
Why tuberculosis remains a major global concern
Despite being a preventable and curable disease, TB continues to spread due to various reasons such as the following.
1. Delayed diagnosis and lack of awareness
Many people ignore persistent cough, fever, or weight loss, leading to late detection. Stigma associated with TB prevents individuals from seeking medical help.
2. Drug-resistant TB strains
Misuse or irregular use of antibiotics has led to multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). MDR-TB requires longer, more expensive treatments with severe side effects.
3. Weak immune system and malnutrition
People with HIV/AIDS, diabetes, or poor nutrition are more vulnerable to TB. Malnourishment weakens the body’s ability to fight infections.
4. High transmission rates in crowded areas
TB spreads through airborne droplets, making it common in densely populated areas. Prisons, slums, and shelters often report higher TB cases.
Preventive measures to control tuberculosis
Preventing the spread of TB requires awareness, medical intervention, and lifestyle improvements. Here’s how.
1. Early detection and testing
Chest X-rays, sputum tests, and TB skin tests help detect infection early. People in high-risk groups should get screened regularly.
2. Vaccination
BCG vaccine is effective in protecting children from severe forms of TB. Although not 100% effective in adults, it still provides some immunity.
3. Completing the full course of TB treatment
WHO recommends a strict 6-month TB treatment regimen. Skipping doses can lead to drug resistance and relapse.
4. Improving hygiene and living conditions
Avoiding crowded, poorly ventilated spaces reduces infection risks. Covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing prevents TB transmission.
5. Strengthening immunity
A nutritious diet rich in vitamins and minerals helps the body fight infections. Regular exercise, stress management, and good sleep improve immunity.
The Library collections contain print and online resources on the topic of alcohol and alcoholism. Resources can be found by searching in the Library’s search tool, Discover. A selection of books on this topic are on display in the Library’s Reading Room as follows
Bynum, Helen. Spitting Blood : The History of Tuberculosis. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
Davies, P. D. O., Stephen B. Gordon, and Geraint (Geraint R.) Davies, eds. Clinical Tuberculosis. Fifth edition. Boca Raton: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2014. Print.
Divangah, Maziar. The New Paradigm of Immunity to Tuberculosis. New York: Springer, 2013. Print.
Kaufmann, Stefan H.E. Handbook of Tuberculosis. Wiley: N.p., 2008. Print.
Migliori, Giovanni Battista, and Mario C. Raviglione, eds. Essential Tuberculosis. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2021. Print.
Open Society Institute., Public Health Watch., and Public Health Program. Civil Society Perspectives on TB Policy in Bangladesh, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Thailand. New York: Open Society Institute, 2006. Print.
Parish, Tanya, and Amanda Claire Brown. Mycobacteria Protocols. 2nd ed / edited by Tanya Parish and Amanda Claire Brown. Washington, DC: Humana, 2008. Print.
Schlossberg, David. Tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections. 6th ed. Washington, DC: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print.
Sharma, S. K. (Surendra K.), and Alladi Mohan. Tuberculosis. 2nd ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Bros. Medical Publishers, 2009. Print.
Stop TB Partnership. The Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2002. Print.
Stop TB Partnership. The Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015 : Actions for Life : Towards a World Free of Tuberculosis. Geneva: Stop TB Partnership, 2006. Print.
Toman, Kurt, and Thomas R Frieden. Toman’s Tuberculosis : Case Detection, Treatment and Monitoring — Questions and Answers. 2nd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2004. Print.
World Health Organization. Tuberculosis Prevalence Surveys : A Handbook. [2nd ed.]. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2011. Print.
