Tuberculosis

The Challenge

Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease that targets the world's most vulnerable people. In fact, 90% of all TB cases occur in the developing world. People with HIV/AIDS are especially susceptible to tuberculosis; a person is 20-37 times more likely to develop TB if she or he is HIV positive as well. Poor health systems and out-of-date technology seriously hinder efforts to stop the spread of TB and treat those who are infected. Moreover, the slow and sometimes patchy response to the disease has only exacerbated the challenge, as there are now new strains of TB resistant to currently available drugs.

The Opportunity

TB is treatable and in most endemic countries, medication is affordable, costing only $16 to $35 for a full course of treatment to cure TB. Successfully completing treatment requires a patient to adhere to a fairly strict daily regimen. The Directly Observed Therapy (DOTs) approach was pioneered in poor settings to help ensure adherence. Between 1995 and 2008, 36 million new and relapse cases of TB were treated with the DOTs approach. Despite this progress, much more must be done as the disease continues to outpace global efforts to fight it.

Learn more, read the full Tuberculosis Issue Brief...