The world’s deadliest infectious disease is on the rise in the US
Source: vox.com
- Tuberculosis cases are rising in the US after decades of decline, with outbreaks in schools like one in San Francisco infecting over 200 with latent TB.
- The disease spreads through breathing, kills 1.5 million people yearly worldwide, and is preventable with short antibiotic courses for latent cases.
- Public health cuts, diagnosis delays from Covid, and drug resistance make controlling TB harder even in rich countries.
Tuberculosis, the top killer among infectious diseases, is rebounding in the US despite good healthcare infrastructure. An outbreak at a San Francisco high school highlights how latent infections can fuel spread in unexpected places like schools. It matters because global neglect of TB means outbreaks can hit anywhere, and fixing it needs better funding, diagnostics, and treatments.