While the world has been focused on the latest health crises and emerging diseases, an old but formidable enemy has quietly climbed its way back to the forefront of global health threats. This familiar disease, often overlooked in recent years, has now surpassed even COVID-19. What is this persistent threat that continues to claim lives worldwide, and why has it regained its notorious reputation?

Rising Cases Signal Urgent Global Health Concern

Tuberculosis (TB) has reclaimed its position as the world’s top infectious disease killer, surpassing COVID-19 in the process. The latest findings by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveal a concerning rise in TB cases globally, with an estimated 8.2 million new diagnoses in 2023 alone—the highest since global monitoring began in 1995. This increase highlights an urgent need for enhanced TB prevention and treatment strategies.

Despite advances in healthcare, TB continues to pose a significant threat, particularly in 30 high-burden countries that collectively account for the majority of the global TB burden. These nations, including India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan, together accounted for over half of all TB cases worldwide last year. The demographic most affected includes men, who make up 55% of those diagnosed, followed by women at 33%, and children and young adolescents at 12%.

TB’s persistence as a leading cause of death is particularly alarming given the tools available for its prevention, detection, and treatment. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed frustration over the continued high rates of illness and death due to TB, emphasizing the need for countries to fulfill their commitments to fight this disease more effectively.

Efforts to close the gap between estimated and reported cases of TB have seen some success, with the disparity narrowing significantly since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This improvement is attributed to robust national and global efforts to counteract the disruptions caused by the pandemic on TB services.

Nonetheless, the challenge of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) remains a critical public health issue. Although treatment success rates have reached 68%, less than half of those estimated to have developed MDR/RR-TB received the necessary diagnosis and treatment in 2023.

Understanding the Threat of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) isn’t just a medical condition — it’s a global crisis that deeply affects families’ financial health, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Imagine this: half of the families dealing with TB spend more than 20% of their yearly income just trying to get diagnosed and treated. That’s a huge chunk of their budget gone, just like that.

TB thrives on poverty and affects everyone differently, hitting hardest those weakened by poor nutrition, HIV, alcohol use disorders, smoking, and diabetes. WHO emphasizes the need for a strong, united effort from all sectors of society to fight these challenges effectively. This includes tackling everything from climate change to the migration and the alarming rise of drug-resistant TB, which is a new kind of superbug that doesn’t respond to usual treatments.

Another worrying aspect is how TB spreads. Recent findings suggest that drug-resistant TB mostly passes directly from person to person, rather than developing slowly in individuals who don’t get the right treatment. This means our current methods of controlling TB might not be enough, and we need to rethink our strategies to prevent this disease from spreading.

With global targets to reduce TB off-track, WHO is urging governments and partners worldwide to step up their game. There’s a big push for more research funding, especially for developing new vaccines, which are crucial for getting ahead of TB and eventually stopping it in its tracks.

For the US, the threat of TB might seem distant, but in our interconnected world, infectious diseases know no borders. The movement of people across borders and the presence of TB in urban areas within developed countries underscore the disease’s potential to affect all communities. Moreover, the persistent challenge of latent TB infections that could reactivate, particularly in contexts of immigration and travel, highlights the importance of robust public health strategies that encompass global and local dimensions.

How Tuberculosis Is Transmitted and Treated

Tuberculosis (TB) is a complex disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While primarily known as a respiratory illness affecting the lungs (pulmonary TB), it can also impact various other organs and is classified into different forms based on the areas of the body it affects:

1. Pulmonary TB: The most common form, characterized by symptoms such as a persistent cough, chest pain, and coughing up blood.
2. Extrapulmonary TB: Occurs when TB affects other parts of the body outside of the lungs. Depending on the organs involved, it can be:

• Lymphatic TB: Affects the lymph nodes.
• Skeletal TB (Pott’s Disease): Impacts the spine and other bones.
• Renal TB: Involves the kidneys.
• Miliary TB: A rare and severe form where TB bacteria spread into the bloodstream, affecting multiple organs.

The transmission of TB is primarily airborne, making prolonged and close contact with an infected individual a significant risk factor. Symptoms vary depending on the type but commonly include:

• Chronic cough (sometimes with blood in pulmonary TB)
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Fatigue

Treatment generally involves a lengthy course of multiple antibiotics, with preventive measures including the BCG vaccine and improvements in living conditions to combat factors like malnutrition and overcrowding that facilitate the spread of TB. Despite the availability of treatment, drug-resistant TB forms pose significant challenges, requiring even more complex treatment regimens.

By raising awareness, promoting early testing, and improving healthcare access, we can better manage TB and prevent outbreaks, ensuring that all forms of the disease are addressed effectively.

My Personal RX on Defending Against Tuberculosis

Preventing TB requires a strong immune system and adherence to public health guidelines, especially in areas where TB is prevalent. As a healthcare professional, I emphasize a proactive approach to enhancing your immune defenses and following recommended protocols to minimize the risk of TB. Here are essential tips for protecting against tuberculosis:

1. Get Vaccinated: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is often used in countries with a high prevalence of TB to prevent severe forms of TB in children. It’s less effective in preventing pulmonary TB in adults but can still provide some protection.
2. Boost Your Immune System: Immune Support supplements can play a crucial role in strengthening your immune system. Supplements containing vitamins C and D, zinc, and selenium are particularly effective in enhancing immune responses, which can help your body resist infections like tuberculosis.
3. Incorporate MindBiotic into Your Daily Regimen: MindBiotic contains a blend of probiotics, prebiotics, and Ashwagandha, which are essential for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and enhancing immune function. A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, better equipping your body to fight off infections such as tuberculosis.
4. Utilize Recipes from the Healthy Gut Cookbook: This special cookbook provides recipes that focus on boosting gut health. A diet rich in fiber, fermented foods, and anti-inflammatory ingredients supports the gut-brain axis and overall immune responses, which are vital for preventing diseases like TB.
5. Regular Screening and Early Detection: For those at high risk, such as healthcare workers, people living with HIV, and those in close contact with TB patients, regular screening is crucial. Early detection of TB can prevent the spread of the disease and facilitate early treatment.
6. Improve Ventilation: Since TB can spread through the air from person to person, improving ventilation in living and working spaces can help dilute and disperse infectious airborne particles. Open windows and use exhaust fans to keep air fresh.
7. Wear Masks: In settings where TB is common, wearing masks can help reduce the risk of inhaling TB bacteria, especially in crowded places or healthcare settings.
8. Avoid Exposure: If you know someone who has active TB, avoiding close contact until they have been on treatment for at least a few weeks and are no longer contagious is wise. This is particularly important in settings where people are in close quarters, like hospitals or prisons.
9. Follow Cough Hygiene: If you have a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, see a healthcare provider for evaluation and, if necessary, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the tissue properly and wash your hands regularly.
10. Follow the Protocol for Overall Health: My free Protocol offers a comprehensive set of guidelines that support general health and well-being, including maintaining a healthy weight, getting sufficient sleep, managing stress, and ensuring balanced nutrition. A strong and healthy body is less susceptible to infections such as TB.
11. Educate Yourself About TB: Knowing the symptoms of tuberculosis (persistent cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss) can help you seek early treatment if necessary. Awareness is also crucial for preventing transmission to others.
12. Complete Treatment: If diagnosed with TB, it is critical to complete the entire course of prescribed medication, even if you start feeling better. Stopping treatment early can lead to drug-resistant strains of TB, which are much harder to treat.

Sources:

1. World Health Organization: WHO. (2024, October 29). Tuberculosis resurges as top infectious disease killer. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-10-2024-tuberculosis-resurges-as-top-infectious-disease-killer
2. Microbe, N. L. (2024). Despite available tools tuberculosis is the top killer again. The Lancet Microbe, 101044. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanmic.2024.101044
3. Grobusch, M. P., & Kapata, N. (2018). Global burden of tuberculosis: where we are and what to do. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 18(12), 1291–1293. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30654-6 
4. World Health Organization: WHO. (2019, May 13). Tuberculosis. https://www.who.int/health-topics/tuberculosis 
5. Ending the global tuberculosis epidemic. (2024, June 13). Global HIV and TB. https://www.cdc.gov/global-hiv-tb/php/our-approach/combatingglobaltb.html
6. Clinical overview of tuberculosis disease. (2025, January 31). Tuberculosis (TB). https://www.cdc.gov/tb/hcp/clinical-overview/tuberculosis-disease.html