Tuberculosis is now as deadly as HIV globally

TB – tuberculosis – is now as deadly as HIV globally, according to the World Health Organization. WHO reported that HIV/AIDS accounted for 1.2 million deaths in 2014, and TB accounted for 1.5 deaths in 2014. Both are infectious diseases. The difference is that tuberculosis is a disease that can be cured, which makes the figures ‘unacceptable’ (BBC, October 28, 2015).

The WHO 2015 Global Tuberculosis Report indicated that TB rates have decreased, with the death rate nearly halved since 1990. The number of infections has decreased by 1.5% a year since 2000. Deaths from HIV/AIDS have also been declining rapidly due to improved access to anti-retroviral drugs. Now TB and HIV/AIDS tie for the title of ‘number one cause of death from infectious disease in the world.’

Most new TB cases occurred in China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria or Pakistan. The WHO report highlighted that tuberculosis could become resistant to antibiotics. About three in every 100 new cases of TB could not be treated with first-choice antibiotics.

Next year, in 2016, WHO will commence its ‘End TB Strategy’ with a target to reduce deaths by 90% by 2030.

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34658015

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