Tuberculosis: An Old Killer Proving Difficult To Best

With the announcement that tuberculosis surpassed HIV/AIDS in attributable deaths from infectious diseases worldwide, there has been a renewed interest in the development of new treatments and regimens for dealing with what is now the world’s number one infectious disease killer.

In 2015, the number of tuberculosis (TB) attributed deaths totalled 1.5 million, outnumbering the 1.2 million deaths due to HIV. While this represents a 47% fall in mortality from TB since 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the vast majority of deaths that occurred were preventable, which is problematic given the estimated 9.6 million new cases of TB in 2015 alone.

Tuberculosis is a contagious airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is largely a respiratory infection and up...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from R&D

More from Scrip