The international effort to eliminate tuberculosis is “in real danger”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Its latest figures showed there were 8.7 million new cases in 2011 and 1.4 million deaths.
It warned of “persistently slow progress” in treating tuberculosis which is resistant to antibiotics.
The TB Alliance said resistant tuberculosis was one of the most “ominous global health threats”.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs but can be found elsewhere in the body.
Dr Mario Raviglione, from the WHO, said that more 20 million lives had been saved in the past 17 years as a result of international commitments to tackle tuberculosis.
However, he warned: “The momentum to break this disease is in real danger.
The report also highlighted problems treating people with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. It said only a fifth of patients thought to have the version of the disease had actually been diagnosed.
The TB Alliance said: “Tuberculosis continues to kill more than 1.4 million people every year and drug-resistant TB remains one of the world’s most ominous global health threats, but treatments for this disease are antiquated and inadequate.
“Standard treatments for drug sensitive tuberculosis must be taken every day for as long as six months to ensure that all bacteria in the patient are eradicated.
“Drug-resistant TB requires a minimum of 18 months of treatment, which includes more toxic drugs and injections.”
BBC has the full article
