World Tuberculosis Day – March 24, 2022
World Tuberculosis Day was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) to spread knowledge and awareness of tuberculosis, which is an infectious disease that kills millions every year. Tuberculosis is easily curable, but it can lie dormant and remain undetected for years, so it’s important to spread awareness. The World Health Organization chose March 24 as World Tuberculosis Day to commemorate the day on which Dr. Robert Koch discovered TB bacillus, the bacterium which is responsible for the disease.
WHY WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY IS IMPORTANT?
It may seem like an outdated disease, but about one-third of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis. It is estimated that 2 billion people have tuberculosis. In 2016, 10.4 million people were infected with TB, and there were 1.7 million TB-related deaths.
Although TB is a bigger problem in third-world countries, its impact stretches closer to home than you might think. In 2014, there were 9,412 new cases of TB in the United States. In 2016, Tuberculosis was reported in all fifty states, with California, Texas, New York, and Florida topping the list.
Due to its outdated misconception, tuberculosis is not seen as a relevant issue. Spreading awareness about the disease can help those at high risk seek treatment. If those who are likely to be affected get vaccinated, the disease could be eradicated, and we could see an end to tuberculosis in our lifetime.