The World Health Organization created World Tuberculosis Day to grow awareness and knowledge of tuberculosis, killing millions annually. This disease is easily curable, but it can lie dormant and hidden for years, so it’s essential to spread knowledge and awareness.
WHO decided March 24 as World Tuberculosis Day to honor the day to Dr. Robert Koch, who found TB bacillus, the bacterium responsible for the condition.
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So, what is TB?
As per the WHO, TB is caused by airborne bacteria that most frequently impact the lungs. It is both preventable and curable, but in 2014 it was the reason behind the deaths of 1.5m individuals.
The condition can be latent, meaning individuals are infected but haven’t yet become ill and are not likely to transmit it. Once infected, people have a 10 percent chance of becoming ill with tuberculosis, and those with a weak immune system are in more danger.
How is the world tackling it?
Since 2000 over 43m people have been saved through adequate treatment and diagnosis.
Completing the TB outbreak by 2030 is a health mark under the Sustainable Development Goals, following a worldwide defeat to reach the Millennium Development Goal of changing the TB outbreak by 2015.
Although TB happens worldwide, the most significant number of new cases in 2014 appeared in the Western Pacific Regions and South-East Asia. Yet, Africa has the most ratio of cases per 100,000 people.
The WHO executed an End Tuberculosis Strategy in 2014, represented as a “blueprint for nations to finish the TB epidemic by saving TB deaths, incidence and stopping fatal costs.”
Facts about Tuberculosis
Here are five quick facts you must know about the disorder:
- 1/3 of the earth’s population is infected with TB.
- Nearly 10m lives worldwide became sick with TB in 2014.
- In the same year, there were 1.5m TB-related deaths.
- TB is a leading killer of individuals who carry HIV.
- A total of 9,420 TB cases were registered in the US in 2014. A 1.5 percent drop from 2013.
How to celebrate World Tuberculosis Day?
● Get tested
Disorder prevention always begins with you. Testing for TB is simple and is occasionally needed for travel or job applications. It’s always great to keep on your medical papers and not in your lungs.
● Spread awareness
Many individuals with tuberculosis don’t actually know they carry it. Latent tb can stay inactive for years without a single sign. It’s why it’s essential to increase awareness about getting tested and treated.
● Volunteer or donate
Events are organized to increase awareness and raise funds worldwide on this day. If you can’t discover one, arrange one yourself. There are multiple organizations committed to eradicating TB that are always seeking donations and volunteers.
Why is World Tuberculosis Day Essential?
● Many individuals still suffer from tuberculosis
It may appear like an ancient disease, but about 1/3 of the world’s people are infected with tb. It’s calculated that 2 billion individuals possess TB. In 2016, 10.4m people contracted TB, and 1.7m TB-related deaths were.
● It’s closer to home than you’d think
Although TB is a more significant problem in third-world nations, its influence extends nearer to home than you might think. In 2014, there were 9,413 new cases of it in the US. In 2016, it was seen in all fifty states, with New York, California, Florida, and Texas topping the list.
● We can stop TB
Due to its outdated misunderstanding, TB is not noticed as a pertinent case. Raising awareness about the condition can aid those at high danger seeking treatment. We could eliminate the disease and witness an end to TB in our lifetime.